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PRESENT PASTOR OF ST. 


PATRICK’S. 








ST. PATRICK’S 

Church and Society 

J 

OF* ONEIDA, N. Y. 


isTlr) jdisforicerl i^efct), 

WITH BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES OF ITS PASTORS. 

BY JOHN T.'DEERING. 


" Wherefore by Tf|eir Fruits Ye Shall Know Them.” 

— Matt, vii-xx. 


ILLUSTRATED. 

ZPClPTTILj^IB IBlDITTOISr. 


Copyright 1888. All rights reserved. 


ONEIDA, N. Y. : 

D. A. Jackson & Co., Printers 
1888. 


lUtr 


sL Ok ' 









The Library 
of Congress 

WASHINGTON 







PREFACE. 

The writer of the following pages offers no apology for their 
existence, save the simple one of a necessity for some scrap of 
church history, however crude, but in the main authentic, 
that would give an outline regarding the growth and develop¬ 
ment of that Church. That many will find errors of detail in 
relation to supposed facts, which have had no more permanent 
foundation than a passing memory, he does not doubt ; but 
when it is considered that the lack of proper education, and the 
daily exactions of commercial life, together with the fact that 
the work is a self imposed one to meet the necessity men¬ 
tioned, all tend to disqualify him for any claim to literary ex¬ 
cellence, leads him to hope that its numerous defects will be 
overlooked. The future historian of St. Patrick’s church and 
society will find a new condition of things, in which our exis¬ 
tence will be more strongly set forth than was that of our prede¬ 
cessors. That this little work will meet the requirements of its 
friends, and be of some small aid to an abler pen in a similar, 
though vastly broader field, is the sole ambition of 

The Author. 

Oneida, N. Y., August io, 1888. 

acknowledgment. 

In collecting material for this work special care lias been taken to secure 
as near as possible, authentic information ; and we acknowledge our Indebt¬ 
edness to the courtesy of Lawrence Kenna, Patrick Devereux and Thomas 
O’Brien, of Oneida, N. Y.; also, to Rev. P. H. BeScham, of Baldwlnsvllle, N. Y., 
and Rev. Michael Powers, of Wappinger’s Falls, N. Y.; John C. Clifford, of 
Syracuse, N. Y., and Edgar L. Welch, of Albany, N. Y. To many others we are 
equally grateful, particularly to members of the press of Central New Vork, 
who have shown a kindly interest In our often embarrassing researches. 


TO 

REV. JAMES A. KELLY, 

HECTOR OF ST. PATRICK’S; 

A SINCERE ADVOCATE 
OF CHRISTIANITY 

IN THE * 

MINDS OF YOUTHFUL MANHOOD : 

AND 

TO THE MEMBERS OF ST. PATRICK’S SOCIETY, 

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE, 

THIS WORK IS 

RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. 


CONTENTS. 

Page 

St. Patrick’s Church and Society, - - - - 5 

The Formation of St. Patrick’s Society, - 9 

Biography of Key. Wm. Beecham, - - - - 16 

Biography of Rev. Patrick Kenna, 25 

Biography of Rev. John McDermott, - - . 29 

Biography of Rev. James A. O’Hara, D. D., - - 30 

Biography of Rev. James Maurice Sheehan, - - - 36 

Biography of Rev. Wm. F. Sheehan, - - - 41 

Biography of Rev. Wm. Fennelly, - - - - 45 

Biography of Rev. James Luke Meagher, ... 50 

Biography of Rev. James A. Kelly, - - - 55 

Biography of Very Rev. Theophilus Mayer, V. G., Madras, 

India, ...... .59 

Biography of Sister Mary Cecelia, ... 64 

The New St. Patrick’s Cemetery, - - - 66 

The Mission at “ The Ridge,” .... 67 

The New Diocese of Syracuse, and the Consecration of its 

First Bishop, Right Rev. Patrick A. Ludden, - 74 

Building the New St. Patrick’s, - - - 86 

The New St. Patrick’s, - - - - - 91 

Laying the Cornerstone of the New St. Patrick’s, - 93 

The Future of St. Patrick’s Church, ... 103 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Page. 

Rev. James A. Kelly, - Frontupiece 

The First Catholic Chuech in Oneida, - - - 7 

The Old St. Patrick’s Church, - - - - - 13 

Rev. Wm. Beecham, ------ 17 

Cardinal John McCloskey, - - - - - 21 

Rev. Patrick Kenna, ------ 26 

Rev. John McDermott, - - - - - 27 

Rev. James A. O’Hara, D. D., 31 

Rev. James Maurice Sheehan, - - - - 37 

I 

Rev. Wm. F . Sheehan, ----- 43 

Rev. Wm. Fennelly, - - - - 46 

Rev. James L. Meagher, 51 

The Altar oe the Old St. Patrick’s Church, - - - 57 

Very Rev. Theophilus Mayer, V. G., - - - - 61 

The Mission at “ The Ridge,” - - - - - 60 

New St. Patrick’s—Front View, 87 

The New St. Patrick’s—Side View, - - - - 95 


ST. PATRICK'S CHOP pD SOCIETY. 

AN HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

In the following outline history of Catholicity in Oneida, the 
origin, growth and development of St. Patrick’s society, * * we 
know of no better introduction than a brief review of the early 
efforts of the Jesuit Fathers to Christianize the Oneida Indians. 

* * The town of Lenox, being the centre of the Oneida Nation, 
was selected by the learned Father Jacques Benyas, his mission 
being named St. Francis Xavier, where he labored many years 
in bettering the spiritual condition of the Indians, it being re¬ 
corded that he baptized some thirty-five persons. Some years 
later, about 1684 , the Rev. Father Pierre Millet was delegated 
by the Governor-General of Canada, De LaBarre, to take 
charge of the Oneida Mission, a duty ably performed for some 
twelve years. Of the succeeding years we have but scant data, 
as during the invasion of Canada by the French the Jesuit 
Missionaries were recalled and the Oneida Mission in the 
vicinity of Oneida Castle left without a resident or even an 
itinerant pastor or head. Still the work of the early missionary 
fathers was not wholly obliterated by the troublous times which 
followed, nor can it be save by the extinction of the Indians as 
a race, for we find many Christian people among the now de¬ 
clining numbers of those remaining of the Six Nations. That 
the Indians were capable of receiving and comprehending 

* Named after St. Patrick, its patron saint, wlio was a distinguished mis¬ 
sionary of the fifth century, and known throughout the world as the Apostle 
of Ireland. 

* * See Hammond’s History of Madison County. 



6 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY, 


religious instructions we have good assurance in the meaning 
of the word “ O-ne-i-ta,” from which we believe our Oneida is 
derived. In proof of the existence of a religious sentiment we 
are informed by tradition in their belief that they were followed 
at all times by a remarkable stone, a huge granite boulder, by 
the name “O-ne-i ta,” to which they gave the meaning as the 
“ people of the stone;” the word Oneita in their dialect being 
construed “Onei” meaning “stone” and “ta” signifying “life” 
or “living stone.” Thus in time they became known as the 
Oneidas, and the first evidences of Christianity known in our 
local history is traceable to the efforts of the Jesuit Fathers as 
missionaries among the Oneida Indians. 

Of the growth of Catholicism in the state, we need only 
refer to the fact that in 1830 there were but two hundred 
priests in this country doing work on the missions. Later, 
when Rev. John Huges, D. D., (1797-1864) was consecrated 
Bishop of Basileopolis, inpartibus, and Coadjutor to the Bishop 
of New York, in 1842, the total number of clergymen of that 
diocese was only forty-eight. At that time the Diocese of 
New York embraced the states of New York, New Jersey, and 
what are known as the Dioceses of Albany, Brooklyn, Newark, 
Rochester, Buffalo, Ogdensburgh and the new Diocese of 
Syracuse. It must be evident then that the people of so large 
a territory and one so sparsely settled by Catholic families, 
could not expect many nor frequent visits from these forty- 
eight priests. In 1836 the nearest Catholic church was that 
of St. John’s in Utica, under the pastorate of Rev. Walter J. 
Quarter. It was here that the priests of the missions stopped 
when journeying through the state, and it was here that Father 
Beecham made known the wants of the few Catholics he met 
in the wilderness of the town of Lenox. 



THE FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ONEIDA. 


































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































* 





















































































































ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 9 

THE FORMATION OF ST. PATRICK’S SOCIETY. 

Previous to 1842 there were no regular Catholic services 
held in the little hamlet of Oneida ; the handful of Catholics 
at that time, when needing the ministrations of a priest, being 
obliged to send to Rome, N. Y., then a small parish of the 
diocese of Albany. The sacrifice of the Mass was offered for 
the first time in Oneida by the Rev. Father William Beecham, 
of Rome, in a little log structure owned and occupied by Pat¬ 
rick Moran, situated on Union*street, now known as West 
Railroad street. In the autumn of 1842 the entire Catholic 
population of Oneida did not exceed ten families, but having 
outgrown the meagre accommodations of the log cabin church, 
the demand was then, as now, for more room wherein to wor¬ 
ship at the altar of the Father of their faith. In the spring of 
1843 (the season of the year almost coincident with the build¬ 
ing of the old and new St. Patrick’s), this zealous little congre¬ 
gation met and resolved to build a church ! In the light of the 
present, as things are judged, with grand churches on every 
hand, many would call this resolution one of sublime folly. 
But the religious necessities of the congregation demanded a 
church, as the visits of the priest became more and more fre¬ 
quent, and a church was built, a little wooden structure capa¬ 
ble of seating some thirty persons. Here the congregation 
continued to prosper in every sense; the natural population of 
the village increased and was augmented by immigration ; the 
surrounding towns grew in importance, and all contributed to 
the welfare of Oneida. The succeeding nine years, from 1843 
to 1851, were years of interest to the Catholics of the village, 
for during that period they had erected and paid for a church, 
small though it was, and were now on the threshold of building 
another. In May, 1851, the mission at Oneida was set apart 


w 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


from the parish of Rome. How important an event it was then 
regarded,—by the Bishop of Albany, with the Rev. Patrick 
Kenna as pastor of the new parish of Oneida and its neighbor¬ 
ing towns. With the proud possession of a priest of its own 
the congregation turned again to the duties consequent upon 
the erection of a church worthy of the advancement achieved. 
In the spring of 1851 commenced the construction of the now 
old St. Patrick’s church, the present site, corner of Main and 
Walnut streets, being secured from Sands Higinbotham for the 
sum of one hundred and eighty-four dollars, under the supervis¬ 
ion of Father Patrick Kenna and the following gentlemen as 
a building committee : Patrick Bulger, Patrick Moran, Patrick 
Devereux, Patrick Brannan and Darby Tormey. 

The plans and specifications were drawn by a Mr. Ellis, of 
Albany, stating that the church was to be one of brick, etc., 
the entire cost of which was to be $2,800, in those times a 
large sum for the then struggling congregation. It was at this 
period of the church's history that the zeal of its pastor and 
people gave such pronounced evidence of their ability to carry 
out any undertaking devolving upon them, and which mani¬ 
fests itself anew in the present plans for a new and grander ed¬ 
ifice. Among the larger subscribers to the building fund were 
Patrick Bulger and Patrick Devereux, while such men as Pat¬ 
rick Farrell, Dermont Kelly, Michael Fitzgerald, John Pardy, 
Patrick Moran, Darbey Tormey and Michael Hines, contribu¬ 
ted generously of their means for the accomplishment of the 
work. The contract for building the church was awarded Mr. 
J. P. Murtaugh, who completed the masonry to the satisfaction 
of the committee, the carpenter work, ceiling and roof being 
done by Patrick Harty. At the completion of the church the 
congregation, finding itself some six hundred dollars in debt, 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


11 


procured a loan of that amount from John ‘Hadcock, which 
sum was raised later by subscription and the entire debt can¬ 
celed under the administration of Father Maurice Sheehan. It 
was at this, or nearly this, time that the first Catholic fair and 
bazaar was held in Oneida, and which proved a success, as we 
are informed that the sum realized was four hundred and sev¬ 
enty-two dollars. It would be interesting to give the details 
of that social event in the Devereux opera house—then Dev - 
ereux hall—but we can only say, and we have good assurance 
for so doing, that the youths of that time were just as active 
and energetic as are their sons and daughters of to-day. In 
the meantime the church prospered spiritually, numerically 
and financially, and in a few years later on the event was the 
administering for the first time of the sacrament of confirma¬ 
tion, the rite being performed by Bishop McCloskey, then 
Bishop of Albany, who died with the distinguished honor of 
being the first American Cardinal and Cardinal Archbishop of 
the New World. The succeeding six years gave the congre¬ 
gation the devoted services of the Rev. Father William Shee¬ 
han, now of Albany, whose untiring attention to the Sunday- 
school classes evinced such splendid proof in the large numbers 
of candidates for confirmation during the various times the 
parish received the visitations of the bishop. The work of this 
good priest was continued by the late reverend and revered 
Father William Fennelly. Rosary and other societies were 
organized and missions held, under such orders as those of the 
Jesuit, Trappists, Paulists and Franciscian Fathers, at which 
many conversions were made, and the erring recalled by the 
sublime teachings, pious instructions and masterly eloquence 
of the missionaries. Upon the death of Father Fennelly, of 
whom we will speak biographically, the congregation had for 


12 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


its pastor for a brief period the learned priest and literateur, 
Rev. James Luke Meagher, who was succeeded in the spring 
of 1886 by the Rev. James A. Kelly, the present pastor. 
Having thus briefly foreshadowed the origin and growth of St. 
Patrick’s society, it only remains lor us to summarize in a 
single paragraph the order of succession in regard to its pas¬ 
tors. Rev. William Beecham was the first missionary priest to 
administer to the incipient congregation ; Rev. Patrick Kenna 
the first regular pastor, from 1851 to 1856 ; Rev. John McDer¬ 
mott, from February, 185610 September, 1857 ; Rev. James 
A. O’Hara, D. D., from October, 1857, to October, 1859; 
Rev. James Maurice Sheehan, from November, 1859, to 1862; 
Rev. William F. Sheehan from 1862 to 1867; Rev. William 
Fennelly from 1867 to February, 1886, the year of his demise, 
Rev. James Luke Meagher having had charge ot the congre¬ 
gation forborne four months of the years 1885-6, a part of 
Father Fennelly’s term, and the Rev. James A. Kelly from 
May, 1886, to the present time (June, 1888). In our biograph¬ 
ical pages these Rev. Fathers of St. Patrick’s will be intro¬ 
duced, and whatever authentic information we have been able 
to gather concerning them presented in as condensed a form 
as the circumstances will permit. 

It is not the intention of the writer, nor is it within the scope 
of this work, to give a detailed review of the steps which led to 
the construction of the proposed new church. All this is fresh 
in the public mind. The necessity was imperative, the oppor¬ 
tunity had come, and pastor and people alike, hand in hand 
and heart with heart, were equal to meet its requirements. 

Easter Sunday morning, April 1, 1888, was bright and glor¬ 
ious in nature, but the vast throng in attendance at both masses 
in the old church bore more than one sad heart and tear decked 


m 









THE OLD ST. PATRICK'S, ONEIDA. 



























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































* 

II H IgR p ft 






• . ; 


















1 












































ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


15 


cheek to the altar rail. It was the last Sunday within the 
sacred walls, and old and young alike came to offer a final 
Paler Nosier at the altar of their newly arisen Redeemer. The 
aged came with memories of the past which were saddened by 
many vacant places in the earlier homes of many a household 
in the parish; the middle-aged came with a joyous mein for 
they were baptized, received their first communion and the 
sacraments of confirmation and matrimony within the old 
walls ; the young came with faces beaming with joyous antici¬ 
pation of the future Easters which they would celebrate in the 
new church of which they were to be the custodians, and which 
they, like their predecessors, were to support and sustain, not 
for themselves alone, but for future generations. The interior 
of the church was as joyous as the occasion would permit, for 
about all there seemed to be a veil, not wholly of regrets, but 
of reverential thoughts, holy aspirations and religious awe. 
The altar was decked with the early flowers and evergreens of 
spring, set off by the golden drapery of the vestments and the 
silvery sheen of light from hundreds of wax candles. After 
the reading of the last gospel the Rev. Father Kelly comment¬ 
ed briefly upon the past history of the church, and more at 
length upon the future of the parish and the great work of 
erecting the new church. The final farewell to the old St. 
Patrick’s was given with solemn vespers and benediction in the 
evening, when the reverend pastor delivered a most eloquent 
and feeling sermon to the vast congregation present. He 
spoke from the text:—“It is Expedient that I Go," * and re¬ 
viewed the spiritual life of the Catholic Christian from the 
cradle to the grave ; portraying in graphic language and choice 
diction, the various feelings and emotions of the human heart 


St. John xvi-vii. 



16 


REV. WILLIAM BEECHAM. 


when inspired by the grace of God in the sacraments of the 
Church. The sermon was able, deep, logical and intensely 
pathetic in its appropriateness, and many wet faces bowed low 
with a keen realization of true religious fervor as the last Dom- 
inus Vobiscu?n was pronounced, and the people turned for 
the last time from the sacred altar of dear old St. Patrick's. 


REV. WILLIAM BEECHAM. 

At no time since the conmencement of this work have we 
regretted more sincerely our lack of space in which to give 
even a reasonably adequate biography of this grand old mis¬ 
sionary priest. Father William Beecham was born in Denm- 
mond, Queens County, Ireland, November 12, 1805. He was 
a descendant of a family, the members of which belonged to the 
Established Church, at least at the time of his birth. He was 
baptized a member of that church December 2, 1806, as ap¬ 
pears from a certificate of Baptism given him by the Vicar of 
Rosenallis, in 1836, of which we give a verbatim copy : “Bap¬ 
tized William, son of Henry Beecham. I certify that the above 
is a correct copy from the Parish Registry Book. Signed : 
George Kemnis, Vicar of the Parish of Rosenallis, Camira 
Glebe, Rosenallis, Aug. 29, 1836/’ His parents and all their 
children afterwards became members of the Catholic faith. In 
early boyhood Father Beecham entered the College of Carlow, 
an institution then under the professorship of such eminent 
men as the famous Dr. Cahill and the illustrious Dr. Doyle, 
where he diligently pursued his ecclesiastical studies, which 
culminated in such marked honor to himself and the church. 
Coming to this country with his parents in 1836, he settled in 




REV. WILLIAM BEECHAM, 
MISSIONARY PRIEST. 
1842-51. 







REV. WILLIAM BEECHAM. 


17 


the city of New York, the same year witnessing his ordination 
to the priesthood by Bishop Dubois, in St. Patrick’s Cathedral 
of that city, where he remained as assistant pastor of St. Mary’s 
(of which Father Quarter, the first bishop of Chicago, 
was then Rector) for some time. Later he was appoint¬ 
ed as assistant pastor of St. John’s Church in Utica, N. Y., 
which position he filled until he erected St. Peter’s Church in 
Rome, N. Y., in 1838, the pastoral duties of which were con¬ 
tinued and ably discharged until his death, on March n, 1876. 
Of Father Beecham’s life and labors at the time of his leaving 
Utica and previous to his pastorate at Rome, we will let the 
able pen of the Rome correspondent of the New York Free¬ 
man's Journal speak : 

In about nine months afterwards he was sent to administer 
to the spiritual wants of the Catholics living in the northern 
and southern portions of Oneida County, and scattered over 
the territory now embraced in Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence, 
Madison, Onondaga, Chenango, and Broome Counties, with 
permission to make his home in Rome, Carthage or Ogdens- 
burg. He selected Rome as being easy of access from the 
different points of his vast mission, and also, no doubt, on 
account of its close proximity to Utica, where he could avail 
himself of the wise counsels of a most prudent, priest, and 
where he could go to fortify himself with the Sacraments. A 
consideration by no means to be overlooked, especially in 
those days when priests were so few, facilities of travel so 
miserable, and the dangers of missionary life so numerous. 
From Rome he traveled over this vast extent of country, bap¬ 
tizing the children of the early emigrants, blessing marriages, 
anointing the dying, hearing confessions, and administering 
the Bread of Life day after day, encouraging and exhorting 


18 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


all to repentance and a life of holiness, till from Rome to 
Rochester, from Binghamton to the Adirondacks, the name of 
Father Beecham became a household-word, at the very men¬ 
tion of which blessings and benedictions without number were 
bestowed upon him, as no doubt numerous and fervent prayers 
will now ascend to God for the repose of his soul. Those 
early settlers loved him, as a most genial and companionable 
man, honored and revered him as a most exemplary priest, 
selected him as arbitrator in their differences, and showed 
their unbounded confidence in his honor and integrity, in his 
wisdom and sense of justice, by invariably, and without a 
murmur, abiding by his decision. In their trials and difficulties 
they found in him a kind Father, who sympathized with them, 
and seemed ever anxious to lighten their burden by pouring 
into their troubled hearts words of comfort and encourage¬ 
ment. Those early settlers, when they wished to make remit¬ 
tances to Ireland and other parts of Europe, gave him the 
money and requested him to secure # a draft and forward it to 
their relatives. So frequently was he called upon to do this 
that it became necessary, as a matter of convenience, to secure 
an agency from the Emigrant Association. Thus he became 
their agent, and corresponded regularly with their relations at 
home. And as he passed along through his mission, he not 
only announced the glad tidings of the Gospel, but also very 
frequently carried welcome news from the fond friends whom 
the emigrants had left in the dear old home. Thus this good 
priest was more than a father to the early settlers, and we 
need not wonder that he was their joy and their pride. His 
goodness to his spiritual children, and his labors for their wel¬ 
fare, both temporal and eternal, did not make him forgetful of 
other obligations. Over twenty years ago the death of his 


REV. WILLIAM BEECHAM. 


19 


brother, Mr. Joseph Beecham, and his estimable lady (sister 
of Bishop Quarter, first Bishop of Chicago), so well and favor¬ 
ably remembered in Rome and other parts of the State, 
brought upon him the responsibility of caring for, and educa¬ 
ting their six orphans, and of economically administering their 
estate. He was not untrue to the trust committed to his care 
by the dying wife of his deceased brother. He had the con¬ 
solation of having his last days made joyous by those same 
children, and was consoled in his last moments by their tender 
care and pious attentions, by their sympathy and prayers. He 
had the satisfaction of knowing they would cherish his mem¬ 
ory, pray for the repose of his soul, and ever respect the sacred 
dignity and character of the priesthood. 

******** 

When he took charge of the mission there were not ten 
Catholic families in what is now known as the city of Rome, 
and even the few that were there were very poor. In such 
circumstances it was almost impossible to succeed, and no 
wonder the Archbishop told him that even if he succeeded in 
building it it would be sold for debts. Still Father Beecham 
was not discouraged. In 1838 the Black River Canal was 
opened, and month after month the young priest passed over 
the entire work soliciting and receiving the generous contribu¬ 
tions of the laborers, and he had the satisfaction in 1840 of 
seeing his efforts crowned with success in the completion of 
the church and in the liquidation of nearly all claims against 
it. We may now build more stately temples, more pretentious 
edifices to the glory of God, but we must not forget the cir¬ 
cumstances—we must remember that in those days the build¬ 
ing of St. Peter’s was a work of far greater magnitude than the 
erection of more expensive and elegant churches in these days. 


20 


ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


Thus lived and died one whose life and labors are so closely 
interwoven with the advancement of religion-, the elevation of 
morals and the perpetuity of Catholicity, not in our immediate 
locality alone, but throughout the entire State. No wonder 
that he was called the “ Pioneer of Catholicity” and the 
“ Patriarch of the Faith ” by the people to whom he minis¬ 
tered, and recognized as one of the “ Old Guard ” by Arch¬ 
bishop Hughes, as the following letter will show : 

“New York, January 15, 1S59. 

“ Rev. and Dear Sir : The 7th inst. was the 21st anniver¬ 
sary of my consecration. Of the forty-eight who were then 
priests in this diocese, I can count but eleven that remain. I 
should have had the pleasure of inviting them to assemble and 
dine with me on the Anniversary itself, had it not fallen on 
Friday, which, being so near the end of the week, might ren¬ 
der it inconvenient for some, at least, to honor me with their 
presence. I have appointed, however, Wednesday, the 26th 
inst., in the hope that as one of the Old Guard you will do me 
the pleasure of meeting the others and dining with me at the 
northwest corner of Madison avenue and Thirty-sixth street. 
Dinner will be served at 4 o’clock. 

“Very faithfully, your obedient servant in Christ, 

“ John, Archbishop of New York.” 

“ P. S. A reply is requested.” 

How well he was regarded by his Reverend Brothers of the 
Clergy will be seen from the closing extract of a report of 
THE FUNERAL. 

The funeral services were held in St. Peter’s Church, on 
Tuesday morning, at 10:30 o’clock. From an early hour the 
church was filled with a large throng, some of whom came to 
view, for the last time, the mortal remains of the deceased 



(Published with the approval of Thomas Kelly, Catholic Book 
Publisher, 358 Broome Street, New York.) 

JOHN, CARDINAL McCLOSKEY, 


Born March 10 , 1810 . 

Created Cardinal, March 15 , 1875 . 

Died October 10 , 1885 . 

The illustrious prelate who was Bishop of the Diocese of Albany during the 
major portion of our sketch of St. Patrick’s Society. 































































‘ 



































































REV. WILLIAM BEEGHAM. 


23 


priest; while others came in order to secure a place in the 
church during the services, knowing well that it could not con¬ 
tain the thousands who would be present at the funeral. Rt. 
Rev. Edgar P. Wadhams, D. D., said Mass at 7 o’clock for 
the repose of the soul of the deceased. Pie was immediately- 
followed by Rt. Rev. John J. Conroy, D. D., who also offered 
up the Mass for the same purpose. As many of the Priests 
as could be accommodated, in like manner, said Masses in his 
behalf. Rt. Rev. Francis McNeirney, D. D., arrived from 
Utica, on the morning of the funeral, at 9 o’clock. At 10 
o’clock the Rt. Rev. Prelates, together with the Priests, recited 
the office of the Dead, after which a High Mass of Requiem 
was begun with the following clergymen as officers of the 
Mass : Rev. P. H. Beecham, Camden, N. Y., as Celebrant; 
Rev. Thomas Doran, St. Ann’s, Albany, Deacon ; Rev. Arthur 
Donnelly* St. Michael’s, New York, sub-Deacon ; R.ev. William 
Sheehan, St. Patrick’s, West Tro)*, Master of Ceremonies ; 
Rev. James Bloomer, St. Peter’s, Rome, and Rev. Thomas 
O’Connor, St. John’s, East Albany, Acolytes. Besides the 
three Bishops and the officers of the Mass, the following priests 
were present : Revs. Thomas J. Mooney, A. Molloy, Michael 
Curran, New York; James L. Conron, New Brighton ; P. J. 
Smith, Maurice Sheehan, John P. Mclncrow, John McDon¬ 
ald, Albany; John J. Swift, William Carrol, Philip Keveney, 
William Bourke, Troy; Henry B. Finnigan, Schuylerville . 
J. G. Cully, Schenectady; William B. Hammet, John Hey- 
land, Amsterdam ; James O’Sullivan, Salem ; Cornelius Fitz¬ 
patrick, Fort Edward ; Michael O’Driscoll, Catskill; J. J. 
Moriarity, Chatham; John J. Brennan, New Lebanon; Wil¬ 
liam Connelly, Green Island; A. Murphy, Hunter; Charles 
Zukee, Canajoharie; James Ludden, Little Falls; William 


24 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY . 


Howard, Ilion ; Mathew Devitt, Cooperstown ; Henry Herf- 
kins, Newport; P. Caraher, Luke O’Reilly, Utica; James 
Hourigan, Binghamton ; B. F. McLoughlin, Cortland ; Ed. 
O’Connor, Clayville ; Peter O’Reilly, Clinton ; William Fen- 
nelly, Oneida; John Ludden, Florence; M. O’Reilly, Pompey 
Hill; Charles Reilly, Cazenovia; James O’Reilly, Fayette¬ 
ville; Anthony Ludden, Hamilton; Thomas Reilly, Water- 
ville; P. Birmingham, Cleveland; James A. O’Hara, D. D., 
Father Rahilliard, Syracuse; Vincent, O. M. C, George 
Brown, Salina; James McGee, Geddes; Francis, Baldwins- 
ville ; B. McDonough, Marcellus; F. J. Purcell, Skaneateles; 
Daniel O’Connell, Oswego; John O’Sullivan, D. D., Camillus; 
Peter J. Schmidt, Rome ; Very Rev. Father Mackey, V. G., 
Ogdensburg; James Hogan, Watertown; Luke Harney, Port 
Henry; Eugene Carroll, Port Leyden; John McDonald, 
Potsdam; James O’Driscoll, Canton; James Sherry, Malone; 
Tobias M. Glenn, Keesville. At the end of the Mass, Rev. 
P. Caraher, of Utica, delivered a brief, but very touching dis¬ 
course, in which he paid a beautiful tribute to the memory of 
the deceased. Rt. Rev. J. Conroy then gave the Absolution, 
after which the congregation, and the thousands who were 
unable to gain admission to the church during the services, 
looked for the last time at the peaceful countenance of their 
deceased pastor and friend. The funeral procession, consisting 
of the Rev. clergy, the various societies attached to St. 
Peter’s, and an immense crowd in carriages and on foot, then 
began to move towards the cemetery. All the stores on the 
streets through which the procession passed were closed, and 
seldom, indeed, is so strong an expression of respect and regret 
witnessed as was visible through the city. On arriving at the 
cemetery, the mortal remains of the deceased priest were con- 


TAJMER KEUNA. 75 


signed to their last resting place; and fervent prayers were 
offered up for the repose of his soul. 


REV. PATRICK KENNA. * * 

THE FOUNDER OF ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH. 

Born 1S27. Died 1856. 

Of the early life of this beloved young priest, to whom be¬ 
longs the title of founder and first pastor of St. Patricks church 
and society in Oneida, we have but sparse particulars. He was 
bom in Clonbullock, Kings county, Ireland, on March 17, 
1827, and received his early education in the common schools 
of the country and at the college of Carlow. Later, when the 
noted college of Maynooth became free to Catholics, * * through 
the efforts of Daniel O’Connell, the future pastor of St. Patrick’s 
entered that institution destined for the priesthood. Here he 
was a close student and deep reader of everything concerning 
the progress of Catholicity in the New World, and upon the 
completion of his college course at Maynooth he came to this 
country in November 1849, shortly after which he was ordained 
by the Rev. John McCloskey, then Bishop of Albany. Follow¬ 
ing his ordination Father Kenna was assigned as a curate to 


* The writer of this imperfect sketch of St. Patrick’s Church and Society, 
deeply regrets that the memory of its founder has not been perpetuated in 
something more lasting than the memory of the Christian people to whom he 
devoted the best years of his life, and hopes to see a memorial window In the 
new St. Patrick’s, as a perpetual reminder to coming generations ol his self- 
sacrificing nature, Christian manhood and religious zeal. 

* * For full information upon this subject (Roman Catholic Emancipation 
Act, 10 Geo. iv. c. 7) see Miss Martineau’s History of England during the Peace 
from 1815 to 1846. Published by W. & B. Chambers, 1858. 




26 


ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


Oswego, N. Y., where he developed characteristics which later 
on showed themselves so advantageously in the building of the 
Old St. Patrick's and the general welfare of its congregation. 
Being promoted from curate at Oswego,, he was sent as assist¬ 
ant pastor at Rome, N. Y., where he labored for a short time, 
or until the formation of the new parish at Oneida, of which 
he was made the first pastor. Here his labors were many and 
arduous, his mission comprising Canastota, Peterboro, Chitten- 
ango, Vernon, Vernon Centre, Verona, “The Ridge,” and 
numerous other towns and their immediate neighborhoods. 
Father Kenna in personal appearance was tall, large, and of 
commanding presence. He was a fluent speaker and an able 
financier. He built the old St. Patrick’s in 1851, and was its 
pastor until his death on Feb. 24, 1856. Dying at the early- 
age of twenty-nine, in the full prime of his youthful manhood, 
he left a void in the hearts and memory of his people as few 
men leave, because he was to them their first Father as well as 
friend. The mortal remains of Father Kenna were interred 
near the sanctuary in St. Patrick’s church on Feb. 27, 1856^ 
with all the imposing solemnity of the Catholic church, where 
they remained until April 2, 1888—a period of more than 
thirty-two years—-when they were exhumed and removed to 
the new Catholic Cemetery and interred in the beautiful lot 
reserved for the reception of the remains of the deceased past 
tors of the church. On this sad occasion, doubly sad it being the 
last service held in the old church, the greater portion of the 
congregation were in attendance to pay their last respects to 
the memory of their early pastor. Solemn High Mass of Requi 
em was sung by Father Kelly, a few words of comfort and 
consolation given, and pastor and people followed the remains 
to their final resting place. Requiescat in Pace . 


























# 







r 4 




4 ft 


'ft 

» 





* 





* 







* 









*» 


. 





s 


: 









REV. PATRICK KENNA, 
FOUNDER OP ST. PATRICK’S SOCIETY 


>851—56 
















REV. JOHN McDERMOTT, 

SECOND PASTOR OF ST. PATRICK’S SOCIETY. 

1856-57- 









rev. johr McDermott. 


29 


rev. john mcdermott. 

This youthful priest, whose years did not reach the meridian 
«ot manhood, was bom in the city of New York, in or about 
the year 1826, where he received his early education in the 
public and advanced schools. Entering one of the prominent 
parochial schools of that city, he took a preparatory course of 
theology, and later applied himself to the study of the law, was 
admitted to the bar of state jurisprudence and practiced for a 
brief period. Having a decided preference for the church, he 
abandoned the bar and entered St. John’s College, Fordham, 
N. Y., where he took the advanced course of theology, and 
graduated with the honors of his class. Upon his graduation, 
Father McDermott was ordained by Bishop McCloskey, with 
whom he remained in the capacity of assistant priest for some 
months. During this brief time he developed many noble 
traits of character, and was, in 1856, sent upon his first mission 
as pastor of St. Patrick’s, Oneida, where he administered to 
that growing congregation for some eighteen months. The 
now rapidly decreasing number of the older members of St. 
Patrick’s, remember with affection the young, and apparently 
robust priest, who administered to their spiritual wants as one 
who surrendered his life before its best fruition was recorded 
in the prospective intentions and noble purposes of the man. 

Dying in early life, from the ravages of consumption, under 
the age of thirty-five, his memory was revered by all who 
knew him, and those best capable of judging still pay tribute 
to his exalted talents. For some time previous to his death 
Father McDermott was at the Cathedral in New York, under 
the considerate care of the late Bishop McCloskey, and there 
the young and enthusiastic priest received that summons, 
which comes to all, bearing the seal of immortality. Father 


so 


ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


McDermott was remarkable for brilliant conversational ability, 
fervid and convincing eloquence, extensive learning, and pos¬ 
sessing all the attractions of one who was by nature and in¬ 
stinct a true gentleman. 


REV. JAMES A. O'HARA, D. D. 

This illustrious prelate was bom in Ballyshannon, in the 
county of Donegal, Ireland, November 2, 1829. Upon success¬ 
fully completing his elementary and advanced studies at Rea’s 
Academy, in his native city, and at Portorea College in the 
county of Monaghan, a branch of the celebrated Trinity Col¬ 
lege, Dublin, where he and the poet and writer, Allingham, the 
celebrated author of “Day and Night Songs/' were classmates 
and friends, he came to Philadelphia and entered upon the 
study of law with Vandyke, one of the most noted American 
barristers of his time. At the expiration of six months of 
assiduous application to Blackstone and Chitty, he abandoned 
this monotonous occupation for the more congenial pursuit of 
his original inclination for the priesthood. He thereupon entered 
Villa Nova College, near Philadelphia, where by his naturally 
brilliant personality and comprehensive learning, he soon be¬ 
came Prefect and also held a Professor’s chair. Later he re¬ 
paired to Fordham Seminary, now St. John’s College, and there 
completed his philosophic and theological course. In order to 
prepare himself additionally for his sacred calling, he spent 
some time at St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, where he 
graduated with marked credit. Being ordained in July 1857, 
at the cathedral in Albany, by his late Eminence Cardinal 




REV. JAMES A. O’HARA, D. D., 
THIRD PASTOR OF ST. PATRICK’S SOCIETY. 
I857-59' 






















































. 






































REV. JAMES A, O’HARA, D. D. 


33 


McCloskey, then bishop of that diocese, he remained as assist¬ 
ant priest to the bishop until his coming to Oneida as the third 
pastor of St. Patrick’s in October 1857, remaining here for 
two years, during which time he administered, with the 
highest satisfaction, to the growing congregation. In his 
capacity of pastor of St. Patrick’s, the Rev. Dr. O’Hara is re¬ 
membered with the profoundest reverence and esteem by its 
oldest members, who recall with pride the splendor of his in¬ 
tellectual acumen, administrative ability, controversial qualifi¬ 
cations and masterly eloquence. In 1859, upon the demise of 
Rev. Father Heas, of St. Mary’s, Syracuse, N. Y., the Bishop 
of Albany, Rt. Rev. John McCloskey, recognizing the develop¬ 
ing abilities of the young priest, transferred Dr. O’Hara from 
his pastorate at Oneida to the important parish of St. Mary’s 
in Syracuse, over which he has ever since presided with dis¬ 
tinguished ability and unbounded success. Besides his pastor¬ 
ate in Oneida he took charge of and personally attended the 
adjacent and distant missions at “Irish Ridge,” Vernon, Cana- 
stota, Chittenango, Fayetteville, Manlius, Cazenovia, Pompey, 
Fabius, LaFayette, * Truxton and Peterboro, a task of herculean 
proportions, owing to the very few Catholics residing there at 
the time, in several of these localities, the great difficulty in 
reaching them in certain seasons of the year, and the perplex¬ 
ing condition and status of some of the outlined parishes ; but 
his remarkable zeal, uncommon executive ability, robust health 
and devotion to duty, overcame all these barriers and his wise 
administration remedied and rectified all existing difficulties 

* A small village In Onondaga County, N. Y., named after the Illustrious 
French patriot, Marquis de Marie Paul Roch Yves Gilbert Mortimer Fayette, 
the great Franco-American patriot; born Sept. 6, 1757, died May 20, 1834 ; who, 
upon unanimous Invitation of the American congress, revisited this country in 
1824. A nobler name on the proud annals of patriotism does not occur to the 
writer. His life epitomizes the sublimity of American genius as represented 
by Washington and Jefferson. 

a 



34 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


and left a record worthy of imitation for the gentlemen who 
have since succeeded him in these now important and prosper¬ 
ous fields of Catholic labor. 

On his advent in Syracuse, he found old St. Mary’s deeply 
in debt, Catholic progress drooping and inactive, and the 

* Sisters of Charity who had located some three years previously, 
in the vicinity of the church, impoverished and discouraged, 
and on the eve of quitting the city. The condition of parochial 
affairs was anything but hopeful, yet Dr. O’Hara entered upon 

• the execution of his obligations with a determination truly ad¬ 
mirable, infused new life into his parishioners, established 
unanimity of co-operation in the community, and restored hope 
and confidence in all that pertained to the well-being, ad 
vancement and successful government of his spiritual charge. 
In i860 he commenced the erection of the St. Vincent de Paul 
Asylum on Madison street, now one^of the most imposing and 
spacious edifices in Syracuse, and within that year had it com¬ 
pleted for the accommodation of the good sisters whom he had 
prevailed upon to remain, assuring them of brighter and better 
prospects for the performance of their saintly duties. This 
laudable and propitious movement gave an impetus to' the 
success of his parochial achievements and proved a veritable 
stepping-stone to the religious and material prosperity of his 
parish. About this period, too, he undertook with like acumen 
and foresight, the extinguishment of the old church debt and 
persevered until every vestige of it was fully and absolutely 
discharged. In 1868 he purchased from the city the property 
now known as the House of Providence, consisting of a very 
large and commodious brick building and 80 acres of land in 
the southwestern part of Syracuse, of which the building alone 


REV. JAMES A. O’HARA, D. D. 


35 


in 1844 cost $45,000, and which up to the former year had 
been utilized by the city for industrial purposes. 

This institution, now wholly free from debt, is used as a male 
orphan asylum, under the management of the Sisters of Char¬ 
ity. It has at present one hundred and fifty inmates cared and 
provided for by the good sisters, and with the St. Vincent de 
Paul Asylum and School, also unincumbered, and which under 
similar government provides for the care and support of some 
two hundred orphan girls, besides giving religious and secular 
instruction to the children of the parish, constitutes the fore¬ 
most charity of the great benevolent institutions of Syracuse. 

In 1870, wisely realizing the growth of Catholicity in the 
city, and the necessity of providing a suitable cemetery to meet 
the wants and exactions which the future would entail in that 
respect, Dr. O’Hara purchased fifty-six acres of land suitably 
situated at the northern limits of the city, and had the greater 
and most adaptable part of it surveyed, graded, beautified and 
laid out in burial lots, with the consent and approval of the 
Right Rev. John J. Conroy, then Bishop of Albany. 

Previous to the opening of the last Ecumenical Council held 
at Rome, Italy, December 8, 1869, Dr. O’Hara accompanied 
thither the late Bishop Lynch, of Charleston, S. C., as his 
theologian, and served with that eminent prelate in that re¬ 
sponsible and exacting capacity throughout the entire session 
of the Council. Meanwhile, inspired by his love for study and 
investigation, he entered the great University of Sapienza, 
where he was remarkable for his diligence as a student, and 
upon graduating, with distinguished honors, received the degree 
of Doctor of Divinity from this famous Roman institution. The 
distinction thus conferred upon Dr. O’Hara by this princely 
seat of learning, is all the more noteworthy on account of his 


36 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


being the only American student and graduate thus signally 
honored. 

Probably the crowning accomplishment of his laborious and 
fruitful life, is the erection of St. Mary’s magnificent church, 
at the junction of Jefferson, Montgomery and Onondaga 
streets, Syracuse, which he commenced in 1874 and completed 
in 1884, at a cost of some $250,000. It is, without exception, 
the finest church edifice in the State between New York and 
Buffalo. In personal appearance Dr. O’Hara presents a strik¬ 
ing resemblance to the late Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, be¬ 
ing over six feet in height, large framed, and possessing 
features of classic mould. He is noted throughout the State 
for impressive and persuasive oratorical powers, descriptive 
accomplishments and extensive theological knowledge. He is 
a profound student of the best literature of the day, a patron 
of the fine arts, an ardent admirer of music and a critic of the 
drama. In the field of accomplishments covered by the deepest 
erudition, Dr. O’Hara stands pre-eminent, and is everywhere 
regarded as a man whose friendship confers honor, and whose 
varied characteristics are worthy of the sincerest recognition 
and emulation. 


REV. JAMES MAURICE SHEEHAN. 

Of this venerable patrician and distinguished member of the 
“ Old Guard,” now of St. Joseph’s, Albany, N. Y., as well as 
the fourth pastor of St. Patrick’s, we have space only to say 
that he was born in 1823, in a small village near Doneraile, 
County Cork, Ireland. His revered mother was noted for her 
personal charms and intellectual attainments, as well as being 



REV. JAMES MAURICE .SHEEHAN, 
FOURTH PASTOR OF ST. PATRICK’S SOCIETY. 
1859-62. 






























'REV. JAMES MAURICE SHEEHAN. 


89 


a sister of two noted men, who were parish priests and vicar- 
generals of the native diocese of the subject of our sketch. 
The first, Rev. Patrick Sheehan, ruled and governed the vast 
diocese of CUoyne, County Cork, nearly the largest in Ireland, 
-until his death, which deprived that diocese of the honor of 
•electing its vicar-general to the bishopric. The second brother. 
Very Rev. Maurice Sheehan, succeeded to the vicar-general¬ 
ship, and was known as an able theologian and persuasive 
orator. In 1835, at the age of twelve years, we find the 
future Rev. Maurice Sheehan a close student at the famous 
■classical school of Charlesville, County Cork, and later at the 
renowned college of Maynooth. In 1840 we find him diligently 
pursuing his theological studies at the Irish College in Paris, 
France, where he added lustre to the honor and reputation of 
his Alma Mater, the college of Maynooth. In the year 1846 
the American, or “ foreign ” bishops, appealed to the young 
seminarians and prospective ecclesiasts of Ireland to emigrate 
to the New World to participate in the grand work of the 
American Mission. Of the distinguished names recorded upon 
the pages of the Catholic history of this country, who were 
first to respond to the appeal, we find those of Father William 
Coughlan, Rev. William Powers, now pastor of St. Mary’s, 
Wappinger’s Falls, N. Y., and the Rev. James Maurice Shee¬ 
han. The Rev. Father James Maurice Sheehan received his 
ordination at the hands of Bishop McCloskey, in 1849. We 
pause to remark, en passant, that it was mainly through the 
instrumentality of the Rev. Father Michael Powers, now one 
of the oldest remaining members of the “Old Guard,” that 
Father Sheehan was induced to visit the New World. Father 
Powers was at the time of which we are writing, stationed at 
Watertown, N. Y., then a small village, and had as assistants 


40 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH ANO SOCIETY.. 


two zealous and indefatigable workers in the persons of Father 
McFarland, afterwards Bishop of Hartford, and the Rev. 
Father Sheehan. At this time Father Powers had entire 
charge of Jefferson county, with the single exception of a* 
French-Alastian settlement near Cape Vincent; also parts of 
Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, in which he was ably sec¬ 
onded in his noted administrative ability by the services of his 
old-time friend and class-mate, Father Sheehan, whose first 
mission was devoted to Father Powers’ parishioners at 
Watertown and Carthage. It was while in this service 
that Father Sheehan made, through his superior, Reverend' 
Father Powers, some remarkable conversions to the Cath¬ 
olic church, notably that of a whole family by the name 
of French, the head of which was a French revolutionist of 
1789, and whose eldest daughter was celebrated for all the 
characteristics of feminine attractiveness, but we regret to say y 
her untimely death furnished the occasion for the first Mass 
of requiem sung at Evans’ Mills, Jefferson County, N. Y., by 
Father Sheehan. Previous to his coming to Oneida, in i860, 
Father Sheehan was pastor at Constableville, Lewis Co., from 
’50 to ’52, where he was deservedly popular, not only-with his 
parishioners, but with the entire population of the place. 
Prior to his pastorate at Oneida, Father Sheehan was pastor 
of a church at Salina (Syracuse), where he gave eminent satis¬ 
faction to a large and growing congregation. Subsequent to 
his pastorate at Oneida, Father Sheehan was rector of an im¬ 
portant church at Saratoga, N. Y., where he was highly es¬ 
teemed for his personal modesty and Christian demeanor. 
Of all the good traits of individual manhood, and they were 
many, for which Father Sheehan was conspicuously noted in 
the estimation of his parishioners and others, it is needless to 


REV. WILLIAM F. SHEEHAN. 


41 


add that his unassumed modesty outshone them all. So re¬ 
markable has this trait become in his case, yet so rare in the 
lives of most men of to-day, that he is known throughout his 
diocese as “ Modest Maurice Sheehan.” It has been said of 
him that he was by nature retiring, and that his life is in full 
accord with the simple humility expressed by the following 
quotation, showing it is : 

“ Far better in its place the lowliest bird 
Should sing aright to Him the lowliest song, 

Than that a seraph strayed should take the word, 

And sing His glory wrong.” 

We might introduce here, and they would make interesting 
reading, many incidents showing the uneffected and self- 
abnegating disposition of the man, but we are reserving for the 
second edition of this work an extended review of the life and 
labors of one who has been true to all trust, faithful to all 
obligations, an honor to his profession, creed, and all the 
various requirements of a universal Christianity.—James Mau¬ 
rice Sheehan. 


REV. WILLIAM F. SHEEHAN. 

In introducing our brief sketch of this admirable priest, the 
fifth pastor of St. Patrick’s society, and whose term as such 
exceeded that of any of its previous pastors, and was, with a 
single exception (that of the Rev. Father Fennelly’s), the 
longest of any pastor of St. Patrick’s to the present writing, 
1888, we are compelled to admit that we are unable to give 
authoritative particulars in regard to the year of his birth, its 
exact locality, or any account of his early school days. He 



42 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


was, however, born in Ireland, and in early youth entered 
Mount Mellery Seminary and studied for the priesthood— 
graduating with credit in the preparatory course. He took 
the regular course of theology at All Hallow’s College, Dublin, 
where he graduated, also receiving his ordination in that city 
in June, 1858. Coming to the United States immediately 
after being elevated to the priesthood, his first mission was at 
the Cathedral of Albany, from 1858-61, where he held and 
worthily filled the position of assistant to the lamented Father 
Rooney, and also occupied the same relation to Father Wad- 
hams, since Bishop Wadhams. In January, 1861, Bishop 
McCloskey, then bishop of the diocese of Albany, sent Father 
Sheehan to St. John’s, in Utica, N. Y., as assistant to the late 
Father Daly. Remaining here for a short time, yet of sufficient 
duration to display abilities so important as to be at once rec¬ 
ognized by his superiors, he was transferred by the same au¬ 
thority to the pastorate at Oneida, whose entire population at 
that time did not exceed fifteen hundred. 

During this period the promotion of Father Sheehan 
from an assistant priest at Utica to the position of pastor of 
St. Patrick’s at Oneida, was an honor to the young priest, and 
in recognition of his unceasing devotion to the requirements of 
his calling, even though the congregation was small, and the 
condition of things of to-day make both look trifling in the 
light showing us the present position of Father Sheehan and 
the growth of his first parish and congregation. Leaving 
Oneida, N. Y., in the fall of 1868, Father Sheehan entered 
upon his duties as pastor of St. Patrick’s, West Troy, N. Y., 
where he has remained uninterruptedly until the present. In 
our introduction to this work we have epitomized the services 
rendered by Father Sheehan to his congregation at Oneida ; 



REV. VVM. F. SHEEHAN, 

FIFTH PASTOR OF ST. PATRICK’S SOCIETY. 
1862-67. 




















* 












































































































































































































































































REV, WILLIAM FEN NELLY. 


45 


services which are well remembered, and in keeping with his 
grander achievements in the pursuit of his pastoral duties at 
West Troy. In that city he has been primarily instrumental 
in building Catholic schools for girls, and personally active in 
establishing the Convent of Mercy and as founder of the Con¬ 
vent of Presentation Nuns. Father Sheehan has erected in 
the same city an orphan asylum called “Colmon’s Orphan 
Asylum and Industrial School,” which is everywhere regarded 
as one of the best institutions of the kind in the state. The 
■church over which Father Sheehan now presides with such 
eminent satisfaction, has a membership of over 4,000 souls, 
who, like the members of St. Patrick’s in Oneida, are anxious 
for the erection of their new church, the plans and details of 
which at present occupies the attention of their pastor. In 
personal address the Rev. Father Sheehan is tall and slender, 
with a face of regular and expressive features. His hair is 
abundantly mixed with white, but it is the whiteness of study, 
not of years. That he may be spared to complete the great 
work which he has so successfully inaugurated is the earnest 
desire of all who are most intimately familiar with his sincere 
and unassuming motives. 


REV. WILLIAM FENNELLY. 

This aged and beloved priest was pastor of St. Patrick’s for 
more than seventeen years. Born in County Kilkenny, Ire¬ 
land, in 1801 ; when he arrived at the age of reason, he decid¬ 
ed to become a priest. At that time, when the laws of England 
governed Ireland in ecclesiastical as well as other matters, he 
was forced to seek his theological education in France, and 



46 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY, 


thus received from strangers what was denied him in the land 
of his birth. Receiving his ordination in France, he preached! 
in one of the parishes of Paris for a number of years, giving; 
eminent satisfaction to his congregation, and acquiring a fluent 
command of the French language. Later he came to the 
United States as a missionary in the south, being settled as 
Professor of Theology in one of the principal Catholic colleges 
of Kentucky, a position which he graced with rare dignity 
and learning. A few years later he was pastor of a church at 
Watertown, N. Y., whose affairs he conducted with such signal 
ability that his bishop transferred him to West Troy, N. Y., a. 
broader field of labor, and one in which his rapidly developing 
characteristics in religious matters might have a larger scope. 
Here he met with success sufficient to gratify the ambition of 
an ordinary priest, but he was not an ordinary priest; his 
linguistic attainments and profound scholarship entitling him 
to still grander achievements. Coming to Oneida in 1867, as 
pastor of St. Patrick’s, he received the cordial support of that 
rapidly growing congregation, to whom he preached and ad¬ 
ministered for more than seventeen years of continuous ser¬ 
vice, with the exception of some three months spent in Europe. 
At the time of his death this Reverend Father had witnessed 
the completion of full fifty-three years of priesthood, and was, 
with but a single exception—that of Father Havermans, of 
Troy, the oldest priest in the United States. He was a man 
of noble presence and commanding physique, possessing 
great courage and strong will power. He devoted himself 
closely to church duties and zealously espoused the religious 
rites and sacred obligations of the church of his faith. 

THE SAD DEATH OF FATHER FENNELLY. 

The sixth day of February, 1886, was a sad one to all the 



REV .WILLIAM FENNELLY, 

SIXTH PASTOR OF ST. PATRICK’S SOCIETY. 
1867-86. 


% 









































I 































REV. WILLIAM FEN NELLY. 


47 


people of Oneida, irrespective of creed. At 11:30 a. m. that 
fated Saturday, the news was carried from lips to lips in solemn 
whisperings that the Rev. Father Fennelly had been killed by 
the cars at the James street crossing in the centre of the vil¬ 
lage. Several persons witnessed the deplorable accident which 
deprived Oneida of one of its foremost citizens, society one of 
its best preservators, and the church one of its oldest and 
ablest prelates. To add to the solemnity of his sudden death was 
the fact that the reverend pastor was returning from the bed¬ 
side of a dying parishioner, to whom he had administered the 
last sacred consolations and sacraments of the Catholic church. 
The coroner’s inquest revealed the fact that a train was passing 
on track No. 4, which attracted the attention of the aged pas¬ 
tor, who did not observe the west-bound train on track No. 3 
until the engine was upon him. After being taken to his room 
at the Eagle Hotel, he showed no signs of suffering or con¬ 
sciousness, his death being the very essence of peaceful repose* 
The post mortem revealed internal injuries and severe con¬ 
cussion of the brain which were sufficient to cause death in 
one half hour, a period which the Reverend Father did not 
survive. News of the sad death of the aged pastor was im¬ 
mediately telegraphed to the Bishop Qf Albany, who returned 
a feeling message of sincere condolence, and designating Rev. 
Father Murphy, of Rome, to take charge of the obsequies of the 
distinguished dead. 

LYING IN STATE. 

The church being tastefully draped with the sombre emblems 
of mourning by the Sisters of Jesus and Mary, of St. Peter’s 
Academy, Rome, the remains of the dead priest, placed in an 
elegant casket, upon a raised catafalque, so that the body lay 
facing the audience, excited the utmost sympathy in the heart 


48 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


of every beholder. All day long and late into the night throngs 
of people crowded both entrances to the church, and the cheeks 
of many, young and old, were wet with tears of real sorrow for 
one who had been more than a father to many of them. A* 
intervals during the day and evening prayers were offered by 
the Sisters of Jesus and Mary, and litanies were chanted by 
several priests. 

THE OBSEQUIES AT ST. PATRICK’S. 

On Wednesday morning, February io, at 9:30 o’clock, the 
funeral service was opened by chanting the office of the dead 
by more than forty priests assembled to pay the last tribute of 
respect to one, who in life, was the beloved counselor to the 
young, and the senior priest to them all. The church was 
densely packed with people long before the hour of service, 
and hundreds were unable to gain admission. The church 
auditorium and altar were elaborktely draped in black, by the 
Sisters of Charity, from Rome, assisted by the society of the 
village. High above the altar against the heavy drapery were 
the words, Requiescat i?i Pace , and to the right of the head of 
the casket on the altar was an elegant pillow of white .flowers 
'with the word “Father” artistically interwoven with flowers of 
a dark hue. The burial case was of a most elaborate and 
elegant design, being covered with black silk plush with massive 
drapes of the same rich material, beautifully trimmed with silk 
fringe and tassels. The handles and trimmings were of a heavy- 
gold plate, with solid silver name plate on which was engraved : 
William Fennelly, died February 6, 1886, aged 85 years. The 
church was densely filled with people long before the services 
began, and hundreds were unable to gain admission. The 
solemn high mass of requiem was participated in by the follow¬ 
ing priests: 


KV. W U1AM FEN NELLY. 


49 


Celebrant, Rev. S. O. J. Smith, of Fort Edward, N. Y. : ; 
Deacon, Rev. P. H. Beecham, Camden, N, Y.; Sub-Deacon, 
Rev. J. B. Green, Cleveland, N. Y.; Master of Ceremonies, 
Rev. J. J. McDonald, of Waterville, N. Y.; assisted by the 
following clergymen: Rev. A. Murphy and Rev. J. Ward, 
Rome; Rev. M. Clune, East Syracuse; Rev. Father Johns, 
Saratoga; Rev. Father St. Herskens, Newport; Rev. James 
J. Renehan, Marcellus; Rev. James J. Peyton, West Albany; 
Rev. William J. Burke, Syracuse ; Rev. James Bloomer, Can- 
ajoharie; Rev. P. Carahar, Utica; Rev. John F. Mullany, 
Whitestown; Rev. John F. Howard, New Lebanon; Rev. 
Daniel O’Connell, Oswego; Rev. James Ludden, Albany; 
Rev. I. Joseph Swift, Troy; Rev. William F. Sheehan, West 
Troy; Rev. P. A. Ludden, V. G., Troy; Rev. James O’Reilly, 
Fayetteville; Rev. John F. Hyland, Ilion; Rev. M. C. Gar- 
win, West Winfield; Rev. J. A. Kelly, Baldwinsville; Rev. P, 
J. Kearney, Fulton; Rev. J. P. Mclncrow, Amsterdam; Rev- 
Peter O’Reilly, Clinton; Rev. S. J. Cannane, Oriskany Falls ; 
Rev. Anthony P. Ludden, Little Falls; R.ev. James H. Hah 
pin, Plerkimer; Rev. A. Lindenfield, Deerfield ; Rev. Dr. 
Moriarity, Syracuse; Rev. M. O. Reilly, Pompey; Rev. F. J, 
Purcell, Skaneateles; Rev. J. S. M. Lynch, Utica; Rev. 
James Collins, Chittenango; and Rev. Jas. L. Meagher, Caze- 
novia. At 10:15 the Rev. Father James A. O’Hara, D. D., of 
Syracuse, N. Y., a former priest of the congregation, ascended 
the altar and pronounced the eulogy. He began by quoting a 
few lines from the third chapter of Wisdom, first verse. He 
then went on to speak of the life and good qualities of the de¬ 
ceased, alluding feelingly to the mission from which he was re¬ 
turning when he was stricken with death. Father O’Hara con¬ 
tinued at some length, dwelling upon the shortness of time 


60 ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 

upon earth as compared”with the durability of eternity, in lan¬ 
guage which was very pathetic, bringing tears to many eyes,. 
The sermon was concluded by the reverend speaker reciting sc. 
short poem, entitled, “ What is time ?” After the sermon was 
completed the performance of the last rites, that of sprinkling 
the casket with holy water and burning incense around : A, were- 
conducted by Fathers Smith and' Green, and the people slowly 
filed out of the church with tears rolling down their cheeks, and 
escorted the remains to the Central Depot. A large delegation 
from the late pastor's congregation accompanied the remains 
to West Troy, where interment was- made in St. Agnes’ Cem¬ 
etery. How truly applicable to the grand old pastor of St- 
Patrick's are the beautiful words of Longfellow: 

So when a good man dies, 

For years beyond our ken. 

The light he leaves behind him/lies 
Upon the paths of men. 


REV. JAMES LUKE MEAGHER. 

Rev. James Luke Meagher was born on August 14, 1848, 
in the Parish of Drangon, Tipperary County, Ireland. When 
two years of age he, with his parents, came to this country. He 
attended the common schools till he entered the high schools 
and prepared for college. He afterwards spent two years in 
traveling through the western and southern states. In 1869 
he entered the Jesuit College, Montreal, where he taught 
English and Mathematics for one year. His health being 
broken down, he the next year entered the Montreal College 
in order to devote himself more particularly to ecclesiastical 

































REV. JAMES LUKE MEAGHER. 


53 


studies, as he had for a long time felt that he was called to the 
altar. After taking two years of philosophy, and devoting 
himself especially to science, he entered the Grand Seminary, 
Montreal, that celebrated nursery of eminent priests and 
bishops. Passing through the usual course of Divinity, and 
receiving each order in its turn, he with his class of thirty-six, 
was ordained a priest on the 18th of December, 1875. His 
first mission was at St. Joseph’s Church, Albany, where he re¬ 
mained as assistant for nearly four years, at the expiration of 
which time he was stationed as assistant of St. Mary’s Church 
Oswego, N. Y., where he remained three years. From there 
he was appointed pastor at Marathon, Cortland County, N. Y. 
When the declining years of Rev. William Fennelly pressed 
upon him the necessity of needed rest, and when he had de¬ 
termined to take it, in connection with a trip to his native land, 
Rev. Father Meagher was sent to the pastorate at Oneida. 
Here his work was condiicive to the good of the society; his 
talents appreciated and his abilities recognized. Upon the return 
of Father Fennelly to his old and beloved parish, Father 
Meagher was sent as pastor to Cazenovia, N. Y., where he 
still remains. Of the literary career of this erudite priest we 
need not speak. Being neither analytical nor critical, we will 
let one of his reviewers speak through an extract from a criti¬ 
cism published in a New York paper. His biographer says : 

“During the first years of his ministry, Father Meagher often 
felt the want of a work explaining the Church, her rites and 
ceremonies, as these especially first strike the eye of the be¬ 
holder. His health and labors did not at first allow him to 
carry out his design, but his whole studies for some years 
tended to prepare him for the work to be accomplished. The 
result was a work Teaching Truth by Signs and Ceremonies. Up 


54 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


to this time non-Catholics had looked upon the ceremonies of 
the Catholic Church as a sort of “mummery,” a “hocus- 
pocus ” of meaningless ceremonies; but his work at once 
made a sensation in all circles. 

It was eagerly read by all parties, and went into every part of 
the English speaking world, to England, Ireland, India, Aus¬ 
tralia, etc. It is now going through the twenty-eighth edition, 
a sale attained by very few books. In fact the works of the 
best authors rarely get beyond the first or second edition. This 
work shows the church services, especially the mass, as a vast, 
sublime drama of the crucifixion, a continuation of Calvary, 
where the priest represents Christ, the right and left of the 
altar the New and Old Testaments, wherein all prophesy is 
fulfilled and to which the ceremonies of the Jewish Temple 
related. 

Continuing his explanations, he a year later brought out 
another work, the “Festal Year,” describing the ceremonies of 
the church during the year, the division of time into minutes, 
hours, days, weeks, months, the seasons of Advent, Christmas, 
Septuageusma, Lent, Paschal Time and the after Pentacost 
Season, with the feasts celebrated during the year, their origin, 
history and meanings. The work is now in the fourth edition. 
Following this he published a larger work, “The Great Cathedrals 
and Churches of the World.” This work is an abridgment of 
the history of Europe and of the Eastern and Middle States, 
with masterly descriptions of forty-eight of the chief churches 
of the world. 

The following year, encouraged by the success of his literary 
efforts, he published his fourth book, “The Seven Gates of 
Heaven,” treating on the history, doctrines, traditions and 
ceremonies of the Seven Sacraments as administered in all the 


m. JAMES A. KELLY. 


55 


different churches and religious denominations of the world. 
This work was received with a favor second only to his first, and 
has already made his name famous in many lands. The present 
year he has issued a new work, “ Man, the Mirror of the 
Universe ; or, the Agreement of Science and Religion.” In this 
he treats man as the compendium of the universe, the last and 
most wonderful creature God made. He defines man as a 
mineral, a vegetable, an animal and an angel, combining and 
uniting all these four kingdoms in himself. Every scientific 
discovery which throws light on man and explains his nature is 
given with the proofs of the existence of God, the immortality 
of the soul, the mind, reason, liberty, the passions, the free 
will, the five senses, etc., etc., are explained with the utmost 
simplicity and clearness, so that a child can understand. No 
one who reads this work, with its vast grasp upon scientific sub¬ 
jects and minute investigations of nature, can ever doubt of 
God, the soul, Christ, salvation, the sublime beauties and deep 
foundations of religion.” 


REV. JAMES A. KELLY. 

THE PRESENT PASTOR OF ST. PATRICK’S. 

Of the subject of this sketch we will say but little. Not that 
there is but little to say, for many pages might be written, 
every word of which would be commendatory. But knowing 
well the Reverend gentleman’s opinion—having heard him 
publicly express it upon more than one occasion—regarding 
biographies, the subjects of which were still living, as vain and 
idle compared with the individual’s daily life and work, which 



56 


ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


alone is the only true and realistic biography of any man* 
however great. Believing, then, that our duty lies in defer¬ 
ence to his opinion, and that our readers will pardon us for 
our brevity , where they expect so much, we will let other pages 
of this little work, particularly those relating to the erection o f 
the new church, speak of one who modestly prefers that his 
biography be manifested by his works. 

Rev. James A. Kelly was born at Waterloo, N. Y., Sept. 15, 
1850. He received the rudiments of his education in the 
public and select schools of Syracuse, N. Y. Having taken 
the curriculum at the Niagara College he entered St. John’s 
Jesuit College at Fordham, N. Y., where he took the usual 
course and graduated. Upon being elevated to the priesthood 
by his ordination at the Seminary at Troy, N. Y., May 30, 
1874, he was immediately delegated by his bishop to perform 
the duties of his sacred calling as pastor in the Adirondack 
region of Northern New York, where he labored for some 
seven and one-half years, in the erection of churches, five of 
which he brought to completion. Later he was transferred to 
the pastorate of St. Mary’s Church at Baldwinsville,' N. Y., 
where he remained for four years and a half, during which 
time he remodeled and enlarged the church edifice, and was 
prominent in numerous works for the general welfare and ad¬ 
vancement of his congregation. Of the subsequent work of 
the Rev. Father Kelly since his coming to Oneida, some two 
years since, we need not speak. Known of all men he is daily 
accomplishing work that will stand as an honor to the village, 
a pride to all its citizens, a beacon light of religious zeal and 
generosity, and a monument to Catholicity that will live in 
testimony of its founder and his people for generations to come 

—THE NEW ST. PATRICK’S. 



THE ALTAR OF THE OLD ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH. 



































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































. 


























































































































































































































































REV. THEOPH/LUS MAYER. 


59 


THE VERY REV. THEOPHILUS MAYER, V. G., 
MADRAS, INDIA. 

A DISTINGUISHED DIGNITARY OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

In connection with the ecclesiastical history of St. Patrick’s we 
would be recreant to our duty as a historian, were we to omit 
a brief mention of this distinguished missionary. He was born 
in Montreal, Canada, in 1847, of a family of French parent¬ 
age, long noted for zeal and piety in Catholicism. Coming to 
Oneida in early boyhood, he became a student at the Oneida 
Seminary, under the tutorship of Prof. J. D. Houghton. While 
here his incipient desires for the priesthood were fostered by 
the Rev. Wm. Fennelly, with whom he was an esteemed favor¬ 
ite and protege. Leaving Oneida in March, 1872, he studied 
Rhetoric and graduated at the famous Sulpcian College, in 
Montreal, Canada, with marked honors as a linguist. From 
thence he went to Mill Hill, London, where he took a five 
years course in Philosophy and Theology, under the professor¬ 
ship of the distinguished Lord Archibald Douglass, graduating 
here from the Mother House of St. Joseph’s Foreign Mission¬ 
ary Society with distinguished honors. In college he was noted 
for simplicity, piety and zeal in everything pertaining to mis¬ 
sionary work, and was one of four, and the only American, who 
took the vows of celibacy and perpetual poverty, by devoting 
his life to missionary labors among the Hindus of the interior 
of British India. Being stationed at Peringhipurarn, his labors 
were many and arduous and during the famine of three years 
following 1876 he was at one time prostrated by the small 
pox. But on recovering took upon himself the duty of caring 
for the sufferers from the cholera, small pox and famine, and 
by his marked devotion to the alleviation of the sufferings of 
the natives as well as by his contributions to the English 


60 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


press, he was appointed by the home government as president 
of a relief committee to distribute supplies to the famine and 
pestilence-stricken natives. He performed this duty so well 
and displayed such marked executive ability in the dis¬ 
charge of the important trust that he received the thanks of 
the British Government through the Viceroy of India, accom¬ 
panied by a resolution of thanks from the British Parliament, 
signed by Victoria, Queen of England and Empress of India. 
The famine subsided in 1880. Father Mayer was entrusted 
with a mission in the interior of the Madras Presidency, a ter¬ 
ritory consisting of more than eleven thousand square miles. 
Laboring here for several years he mastered the following 
languages : Telugoo, Tamil, Canarese, Malyalum and Hin¬ 
dustani, speaking and writing in each, the latter language, that 
of the Hindustani, being the language of more than fifty mil¬ 
lion Mussulmen. In recognition of his wonderful success in 
Christianizing the Hindus pagans, and as an orator and in¬ 
structor of pronounced ability, he was made principal of St. 
Mary’s College of Madras (a city of some 400,000 inhabitants) 
an institution affiliated to the University of Madras and under 
the direction of the fathers of St. Joseph’s society. In this his 
capacity and learning received a mark of distinguished ap¬ 
proval by his creation as Vicar-General of the Diocese of 
Madras, an honor obtained for the first time by an American. 
His field of labor being a vast one, a word concerning British 
India may be of interest here as showing how that great coun¬ 
try differs from our own. India is an extensive region of 
Southern Asia, its length about nineteen hundred miles and 
its breadth averaging sixteen hundred miles, with an area of 
1,300,000 square miles. This vast territory presents a most 
diversified surface of varied scenery and has been called “ an • 




VERY REV. THEOPHILUS MAYER, 
VICAR-GENERAL OF THE ARCHEPISCOPAL 
DIOCESE OF MADRAS, INDIA. FIRST 
PRIEST ORDAINED FROM ST. 
PATRICK’S PARISH. 




















r 














* 


% 





























































* 


\ 


rev. rmmm mayer. 


d3 

<epitome of the whole earth.” The vegetable productions of 
this country are as varied as its soil and climate, and passes 
tfrom the flora of a tropical to that of an Alpine region, but 
rice is the chief article of food, and is produced in all parts of 
the country where irrigation is practiced. The climate is 
divided into three periods, the cool, the hot and the rainy. 
The inhabitants consist of three races, widely distinguished 
from each other—the Mongols, Dravidians and Aryans, all of 
which are sub- divided and grouped, in numerous classes, ac¬ 
cording to their languages. Hindooism or Brahminism is 
the religion of the great majority of the inhabitants of India. 
Mohammedanism comes next, the number of inhabitants pro¬ 
fessing this creed being in the neighborhood of fifty millions, 
but there are nearly three times as many Hindoos as Moham¬ 
medans. India was one of the earliest fields of Christian 
missions. In 1498, Vasco di Gama, the first Portuguese nav¬ 
igator, planted a Syrian church in Malabar, in Southern India. 
From the time of the Jesuit missionaries, in the middle of the 
sixteenth century, down to the present time, Catholicity has 
made a steady progress and to-day India has twenty-five 
bishops, twelve, hundred priests and more than six hundred 
nuns and monks of that denomination. The total population 
of India numbers something more than two hundred and fifty 
million souls, the vast majority of whom are believers in Hin¬ 
dooism or Paganism. In August, 1884, Father Mayer left 
Madras to attend a general assembly of St. Joseph’s Foreign 
Missionary Society at London, and was delegated by his 
bishop, the Right Rev. J. Colgan, to lecture in the United 
States in behalf of the “Society of the Propagation of the 
Faith.” Arriving in this country, Father Mayer attended the 
great Plenary Council held by the Catholic clergy of the 


64 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


United States, in the city of Baltimore. Before returning to» 
his missionary labors in India in 1885, he made a tour of 
Europe, visiting Rome and the Holy Land, from which places: 
he contributed a series of oriental letters brilliantly descriptive 
of the various scenes of travel, to the Catholic Watchman — 
the official organ of Catholicity in Madras. 

Owing to the ability, learning and religious zeal of this de¬ 
voted priest, the writer of this imperfect sketch looks forward 
to a natural consummation, when he will be elevated to the 
Bishopric of Madras, thus crowning the ecclesiastical career of 
Oneida’s first student for the priesthood. 


SISTER MARY CECELIA. 

We offer no excuse for introducing here the mention of one 
whose very name adds dignity to our pages. If we thought 
we had a single reader who would question the appropriate¬ 
ness of our action in making public the life of a lady recluse, we 
would answer that objection by asserting that the require¬ 
ments of our duty as a historian of St. Patrick’s Society makes 
it imperative. We question if anyone more fully realizes the 
embarassments attending the task of obtaining authentic data 
when the time arrives when facts are indispensable. 

Calmly predicting that the growth of St Patrick’s Society 
will not attain its climax for generations to come, we wish to 
relieve a future writer of some of the duties which w*e have 
found irksome, by recording in these pages the fact that 



BISTER MARY CECELIA. 


B5 


Sister Mary Cecelia* was the first Sister of Mercy from St. 
Patrick’s parish. The general reader will pardon us if we di¬ 
gress for a moment to show that the order of Sisterhoods in 
the Catholic church bears the seal of antiquity—dating back to 
the fourth century. The various orders had for their origin 
and foundation two gTand principles, whose objects were uni¬ 
versal charity and the propagation of the faith. The order of 
Sisterhoods consists of two divisions, contemplative and 
active. The difference is apparent; the former being mainly 
devotional and educational; the latter active workers of benefi¬ 
cence outside as well as inside convent walls. All the world 
knows that these Sisterhoods are acknowledged as the al¬ 
moners of the people who contribute of their means for the 
alleviation of the various necessities of charity, and the record 
of their glorious deeds of Christian benevolence amid the 
pestilence of hospitals and the carnage of battlefields, aye, 
even in the very morgue itself, needs no repetition here. 

Miss Mary Devereux, eldest daughter of Patrick and Sarah 
Devereux, known in the seclusion of religious life as Sister 
Mary Cecelia, was born in Oneida, N. Y., Oct. 29, 1852. 
She received her early education in the public and select 
schools of that village, graduating from the Oneida seminary 
in 1871. Possessing, in the eyes of the casual critic, a genial 
and sprightly disposition, still her nature was strongly imbued 
with a deep under current of irresistible religious enthusiasm. 
This grand and governing principle, the ruling passion of her 

* Named after St. Cecelia, tlie universally acknowledged patroness of 
music and regarded as the inventoress of the organ, daughter of a noble Roman 
family and for the cause of religion suffered martyrdom In the year 230. In 
the fifth century she had a church dedicated to her at Rome; and in 821, by 
order of Pope Paschal, her bones were deposited there. Chaucer, Oryden and 
Pope have each celebrated St. Cecelia, and Raphael, Domenichlno and Dolce 
have further immortalized her by the genius of their art. Her festival-day in 
the Catholic church is Nov. 22 and Is celebrated with imposing music. 



66 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY* 


existence, we can understand but can not pass upon in words;, 
save by that divinely expressed sentiment: 

That his better to grope in the dark with God 

Than walk in the light alone.”" 

Subsequent to her graduation at the Oneida seminary, Miss 
Devereux remained with her family for a few years as the ac¬ 
knowledged life of the household, and a delight to all who had 
the honor of her generous friendship. Entering the Convent 
of Mercy at Greenbush, N. Y., on April 21, 1887, as a postu¬ 
lant and novice, she assiduously devoted herself to the 
educational requirements necessary for the proper performance 
of the duties of her saintly calling, and there received the white 
veil of the Sisters of Mercy upon 'the anniversary of her patron 
saint, St. Cecelia, Nov. 22, 1879. Prominently identified with 
all the charitable and benevolent works of St. Josephs Hos¬ 
pital and Academy of Albany, and performing, in addition, a 
similar line of duties, those of instructor in literature and 
teacher of advanced music, at a like institution at Troy. 
Sister Cecelia is daily adding honor to her family, lustre to the 
memory ol her saintly patroness and glory to her God. 


THE NEW ST. PATRICK’S CEMETERY. 

This beautiful “silent city of the dead,” comprising some 
thirty-five acres, lying about one and one-half miles south of 
the old St. Patrick’s church, was purchased on Jan. 1, 1882; 
price $4,000. A considerable amount was judiciously expend¬ 
ed in a preliminary survey, laying out and surveying lots, plant¬ 
ing shrubbery and otherwise beautifying the grounds. This 



THE MISSION AT “THE RIDGE.” 


67 


cemetery was consecrated in June 1882, the Rev. Father Fen- 
nelly acting as consecrator ; Rev. Father Terry, as orator, the 
ceremonies being participated in by Fathers Smith, Murphy, 
Bloom and several other distinguished clergymen. The first 
interment was the remains of Mrs. Mary Donovan on July 24, 
1882, and the total number of burials to date numbering 
about one hundred and fifty-eight, of whom many were the 
aged members of the congregation when first organized. It is 
not within the scope of this article to elaborate upon the at¬ 
tractiveness of this cemetery as a resting place for the dead, 
the number of lots sold to the members of St. Patrick’s society, 
the monuments erected, or the laudable intention of the com¬ 
mittee who have it in charge, and who so nobly, and, we must add 
ably, brought it to its present attractive condition as one of the 
finest rural cemeteries in the state. It needs no eulogium save 
the mention of its officers : Rev. James A. Kelly, president; 
Thomas Kelly, vice president; Rhoda Toher, secretary; T. 
A. Devereux, financial secretary; L. Kenna, treasurer, and 
the following business committee : Michael Doran, Neil Du- 
ross and Charles Mullen. 


THE MISSION AT “THE RIDGE.” 

There is always a melancholy tinge to the thoughts sug¬ 
gested by a visit to a country churchyard, and more strikingly 
so when one finds the scene visited in a condition of deca 
dence. As “the groves were God’s first temples,’’ and 



68 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


grassy mounds the only monuments, the rural cemetery shows 
no trace of human pride in the calm repose of death. The 
genius of man does not come here to vaunt itself in sculptured 
shafts of Grecian mould, nor do defiers of decay here tempt 
the Egyptian’s art. The only mark of worldliness and wealth 
is the humble slab, reared by affection’s hand above the 
Christian heart that rests beneath. The mission at “ The 
Ridge ” tells its history now only by the memory of its living 
and the silence of its dead. The little church in the grave¬ 
yard stands as a monitor to the living and as a common monu¬ 
ment to all who lie around it. The morning dews are undis¬ 
turbed by sacriligious feet from the hour the vernal turf re¬ 
ceives its daily baptism until the russet rays of twilight draw 
“ the curtain of the night ” with' the silent benediction of the 
sun. Still all is not isolation nor despair. The church is visited 
monthly, perhaps fortnightly, by the Rev. Father Kelly, whose 
interest in its welfare is second only to that manifested in St. 
Patrick’s, where the cultured and versatile abilities of his 
youthful manhood find full expression. Here he has brought 
the very altar of the old St. Patrick’s, furnished it with all the 
necessities of sacramental dignity; but above all, and dearer 
to the devout parishioners, he has brought the superlative per¬ 
sonality of zeal, piety, executive qualifications, and all the 
brilliant attainments of a truly intellectual eloquence ; not the 
mere “lip service” that pleases the ear, but the logic of reason 
that convinces the mind and secures the services of the heart. 
We walk above the silent mounds of many whom we have 
held in grateful rememberance from infancy to middle life, and 
we are constrained to think, with Hugo, “ That certain 
thoughts are prayers; that there are times when, no matter 
what may be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees,” 


« 



THE MISSION AT “THE RIDGE. 


















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































THE MISSION AT “THE RIDGE." 


71 


as we find our pen attempting to portray, in imperfect verse, 
the consolation that labor must have furnished the originators 
of this mission, and for the introduction of which we solicit the 
pardon of our readers : 

The low, sad music of the dying wind, 

Whispers an anthem to the naked trees, 

And holiest chrism signs the troubled brow 
Of lowly Labor, with the name of Peace: 

While, with the dying breath of evening breeze 
The sun lays by his armour of clear light, 

To sleep in peace, while labor rests with God. 

I murmur not to follow the rude plow 
That turns to newer life the valley’s sward, 

Nor envy brows that wear the stately crown 
Of passing royalty, or kingly pomp, 

For to my tired, weary frame, at night, 

There comes a repose, that no eider-down 
Can bring to prince who lives the sinecure 
And standing mockery to the name of man > 

Won as the ransom of a mind at peace, 

In consciousness of duty well performed. 

That the duty of establishing this mission was well performed, 
no one can doubt. The names of the Ennises, the Hylands, the 
Harrisons, the Sullivans, the Kennedys, the Dempseys, the 
Tierneys and at a later period the Cassidys and Deerings, are 
all remembered and awarded the credit to which they were so 
justly entitled. As a rule their descendants are worthy of their 
pious parentage, honorably representing the names they bear. 
But they are added to the slumbering list that await the roll 
call of the resurrection. Here the founders of the primitive 
church repose; their work has been done and they rest in 
peace. “ Mute and inglorious,” as Gray in his elegy styles 
those whose names are unheralded and whose songs are un- 


72 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH' AND SOCIETY 


sung, yet their coronation of immortality is decked with the 
diamond of u Semper Idem” to the Faith of their Father.. 
The history of this mission is so strongly intertwined with the 
history of St. Patrick’s that we may regard them as almost 
identical, with the single exception of seniority, in which St. 
Mary’s of The Ridge leads, ante- dating by several years the 
existence of any church in Oneida. Prior to the completion 
of the old Erie canal in 1825, (enlarged and finished in 1836) 
Thomas Ennis, an exile or refugee from Ireland during the 
rebellion of 1798, was engaged as a surveyor by the State for 
the purpose of laying out that water course. He was a man 
of extensive learning, and came from a highly respected an¬ 
cestry. Taking in part payment for his services rendered the 
State, the “ Pagan Purchase,” consisting of some nine hundred 
acres of land was the foundation of the Catholic mission known 
as “ The Ridge.” Being extensively connected in Ireland, 
Thomas Ennis, upon his receiving this vast tract of land, re¬ 
visited his native country for the purposes of colonization. He 
induced William, Patrick, Thomas and John Hyland, Eliz¬ 
abeth Sullivan, Mary Kennedy, and Catherine Green, of Kings 
County, Ireland, to come to this country, and to whom he 
gave respectively forty acres of land and one hundred dollars 
additional to enable them to build their little habitations. 
This little colony increased in numbers and material progress 
from year to year. The first comers brought from their “native 
heath” all those who had an inclination to settle in the New 
World, as well as those who, lacking the ties of relationship, 
had the courage to cross the sea, at that time no mean qualifi¬ 
cation, it taking from five to eight weeks for the sailing vessels 
to accomplish what is now done by the steamers in less than 
seven days. The little hamlet thus became important, the 


THE MISSION AT “THE RIDGE. 


73 


faith of its people demanded expression and the necessity for 
a church was imperative. The Christian people whose names 
we have mentioned, and others equally worthy, met this neces¬ 
sity. The land now occupied by the church and cemetery was 
given without price, save the lawful consideration of one dol¬ 
lar, by deed dated in or about 1833 to John Hughes, at that 
time the Rt. Rev. Bishop of the Diocese of Albany. This 
property consists of three-quarters of an acre of land, one-half 
acre of which was donated by John Hyland and the remaining 
quarter by Patrick Sullivan. The deed was drawn by an 
attorney named Hogan, of Utica, N. Y., with Father Walter J. 
Quarter, the party of the first part, and Rt. Rev. John Hughes, 
the party of the second part, and was witnessed by Mrs. Abi¬ 
gail Healy, nee Abigail Hyland, at her residence, in the pres¬ 
ence of her uncle John Hyland and Father Quarter. Of the 
official record of this deed we have no positive information be¬ 
yond the assurances of this good woman whose memory re¬ 
garding dates we have, by research and comparison, found 
reasonably authentic. The church was framed and partly 
completed about the year 1831, through the endeavors of those 
named in a previous page, and was one of the first mission 
churches of the State. Prominently identified with the erection 
of this church, and affectionately remembered by its people, 
are the names of William Hyland, who died October n, 1865, 
and his brother John Hyland, whose remains were laid at rest 
among the first interments in the little graveyard, about 1833. 
Summarized, the history of “The Ridge” is that the place was 
founded by Thomas Ennis about the initial years of the present 
century; the first missionary priest being Father Walter J. 
Quarter, followed by Father William Beecham, who was con¬ 
tinuously and uninterruptedly succeeded by the respective 


74 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


pastors of St. Patrick's at Oneida. We have intimated that 
this mission was in a state of decline, but from a thorough 
personal investigation, we are assured by the most reliable 
authority obtainable that its near future will add lustre to its 
past; that, under the progressive administration of Father 
Kelly its climax will be reached, and that its generous people 
of the present will add additional laurels to the escutcheon of 
their worthy ancestors. The future of “The Ridge” contains 
bright rays of hope, and this hope has an everlasting founda¬ 
tion based upon the ties of kindred and creed. Here repose 
the earthly habiliments of many who “acted their brief hour” 
upon the stage of life with honor to themselves years before a 
graveyard was outlined at Oneida. How fulsome even merited 
praise would sound above their silent graves to-day ! The 
mark on perishable marble is not the insignia of immortality, 
but the soul-lives of a people are the stepping-stones of God. 


THE NEW DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE, AND THE 
CONSECRATION OF ITS FIRST BISHOP, 
RIGHT REV. PATRICK A. LUDDEN. 

For several years previous to 1887 there were various reports 
regarding the formation of anew diocese of Central New York, 
growing out of the fact that the diocese of Albany had so in¬ 
creased in population, wealth, etc., that the vast amount of work 
to be properly performed was too much for a single bishop to 
accomplish. The new diocese of Syracuse at present comprises 
a territory including the counties of Oneida, Onondaga, Oswe¬ 
go, Madison, Chenango and Broome, in which there are fifty 



m. PATRICK A. LCD DEN. 75 

churches, with about eighty priests exclusive of religious orders 
convents and other religious institutions, St. John’s Church, 
Lock Street, Syracuse, has been selected as the Cathedral, 
with Rev. J. S. M. Lynch as Vicar-General of the new diocese. 
The Right Rev. Patrick A. Ludden, the new bishop, long the 
Vicar-General of the diocese of Albany, and rector of the 
cathedral at Albany, was born in Ireland in 1836. His pre¬ 
liminary education was acquired in the college of Tuam, under 
the tutorship of the celebrated John McHale. Coming to the 
United States in 1859, he entered the Grand Seminary at Mom 
treal, where he was a close student and early manifested traits 
of character which predetermined an honorable and successful 
career in his sacred calling. He was ordained a priest in 1864, 
and had for his first pastorate St. Joseph’s Church at Albany. 
He was subsequently selected by Bishop Conroy as his private 
secretary, and upon the promotion of Father Wadhams to the 
Episcopacy, in 1872, succeeded him as Vicar-General of the 
diocese of Albany. In 1880 he assumed the pastorate of St. 
Peter’s Church, Troy, which position he filled with marked 
success until his elevation to the Bishopric of Syracuse. The 
consecration of the new bishop took place in the Church of 
the Assumption, Syracuse, of which the Rev. Father Leonard 
Reich is pastor, on Sunday, May 1, 1887, and was witnessed 
by a vast throng of people from the Various cities and towns 
of Central New York. 

There were present at the consecration Upwards of one 
hundred and fifty priests, bishops and students, who presented 
an imposing appearance in the procession, at the head of 
which was the Rev. Father Mullaney of Whitestown. Next 
came Bishop-elect Ludden, attended by the other bishops; 
then Archbishop Corrigan and the clergy. Among those 


76 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCTETY. 


present were : Fathers Lynch and Toomey, of St.. John’s, Utica- 
John LynGh of Albany; Father Rosbauer of St. Joseph’s p 
Father O’Reilly of Clinton ; Father O'Connor of Clayville p 
Father McDonald of Waterville; Father Cullen of Norwich; 
Father Kelly of Oneida ; Fathers Ward, Murphy and Smith of 
Rome f Father Anthony Ludden of Little Falls, and Father 
James Ludden of Albany; Fathers Higgins, Presser, Barry, 
Hughes, Ogle and Fournier of Oswego; Fathers Mullaney' 
and Pendergast of Whitestown and Father Hart of Boonville; 
Quite a number of bishops were present, among them Bishops 
McNierny of Albany; Loughlin of Brooklyn ; McQuaid of 
Rochester; Ryan of Buffalo; O’Reilly of Springfield ; Wiggar 
of Newark; O’Farrell of Trenton; Fabre of Montreal; Gil¬ 
more of Cincinnati; Bradley of New Hampshire ; O’Hara of 
Scranton; Vicar-General Walsh of Ogdensburg; Vicar-Gen¬ 
eral Bourke of Albany; Monsignor de Concilio, the distin¬ 
guished contributor to the principal Catholic magazines; Rev. 
S. B. Smith, the only author on canon law in this country, and 
many others. 

The officers of the mass were: Celebrant, Most Rev.- M. A. 
Corrigan, D. D., Archbishop of New York; assistant bishops, 
Rt. Rev. Francis McNierny, D. D., of Albany, Rt. Rev. 
John Loughlin, D. D., of Brooklyn; assistant priest, Very 
Rev. Dr. Gabriele, President of the Troy Seminary ; Deacons 
of Honor, Rev. Peter O’Reilly, Rev. Bernard McLoughlin; 
Deacon of the Mass, Rev. J. S. M. Lynch, Utica; Sub-deacon, 
Rev. James P. O’Connor; Master of Ceremonies, Very 
Reverend Thomas M. A. Bourke, Vicar General of the 
diocese of Albany; Assistants, Rev. John J. Hanlon, Rev. 
John L. Reilly; Chaplain of the Bishop, Rev. James Ludden, 
his brother; Chaplain of Assisting Bishop McNierny, Rev. 


REV. PATRICK A. LUDDEN, 


77 


John J. Kennedy; Chaplain of Assisting Bishop Loughlin, 
Rev. Dr. O’Hara; Censor Bearer, Rev. James V. Donnelly; 
Book Bearer, Rev. John Grimes; Mitre Bearer, Rev. Phil. 
Haarick; Cross Bearer of the Mass, Rev. John Mullaney, 
Whitestown ; Bearer of the Archepiscopal Cross, Rev. E. F. 
O’Connor, Clayville; Candle Bearer, Rev. James Ward; 
Chanters, Rev. James McGean, New York, Rev. James P. 
Magee, Syracuse, Rev. John J. Hickey, Lyons; Rev. James J. 
O’Brien, Sandy Hill. The offices of acoyltes and gift bearers 
were filled by Franciscan students. The Archbishop, assistants 
and Bishop-elect took positions in front of the high altar and 
the other bishops were stationed at the side of the chancel. 
The chancel is a very large one and was beautifully decorated 
with flowers. The high altar was resplendent with gilt, and 
the vestments worn by the bishops, yellow or purple, made the 
living picture in the sanctuary one of bright colors. The 
priests occupied camp chairs in the transept and main aisle. 
Bishop McNierny presented Bishop-elect Ludden to Arch¬ 
bishop Corrigan, and the commission, which was in Latin, a 
translation of which we submit, was read. Bishop-elect Lud¬ 
den then made his profession of faith and took the following 
oath of duty : 

OATH. 

“I, P. A. Ludden, elect of the church, will be from this hour 
henceforward obedient to blessed Peter, the apostle, and to 
the holy Roman church, and to the most blessed Father, Pope 
Leo XIII, and to his successors, canonically chosen. I will 
assist them to retain and defend against any man whatever^ 
the Roman Popedom, without prejudice to any rank. I will 
take care to preserve, defend and promote the rights, honors, 
privilege and authority of the holy Roman church, of the Pope 


78 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


and of his successors as aforesaid, with my whole strength. I 
will observe and cause to be observed by others the rules of 
the holy fathers, the decrees, ordinances or dispositions and 
mandates of the Apostolic See. When called to a synod I 
will come, unless I be prevented by a canonical impediment. 
I will personally visit the Apostolic See once every ten years 
and render an account to our blessed Father, Leo XIII, and 
to his successors as aforesaid, of my whole pastoral office, and 
of everything in any way appertaining to the state of my 
church, to the discipline of the clergy and the people and to 
the salvation of the souls entrusted to my care; and I will 
humbly receive in return the apostolic mandates and most 
diligently execute them. But if -1 be prevented by a lawful 
impediment, I will perform all things aforesaid by a certain 
messenger specially authorized for the purpose, a priest of the 
diocese or by some other secular or regular priest of tried vir¬ 
tue and piety, well instructed on all of the above subjects. I 
will not sell or give away, or mortgage, nor in any other way 
alienate the possessions belonging to my table without the 
leave of the Roman Pontiff, and should I proceed to any 
alienation of them I am willing to contract by the very fact, 
the penalties specified in the constitution published on this 
subject.” 

The music was grand and was of itself worth going to Syra¬ 
cuse to hear. The Kyrie was from Mozart’s Twelfth Mass, 
and the other portions from Haydn’s Second Mass. The 
music was by a choir of 120 voices, George Baumer, formerly 
organist of St. Joseph’s Church, Utica, presiding at the organ, 
and his father, Francis Baumer, acting as director. A fine 
orchestra of twenty pieces assisted in the accompaniments. 
During the singing of the Kyrie the Archbishop took his seat 


REV. PATRICK A. LUDDEK. W 

<oti the throne. The music was full of harmony, grand and 
magnificent. Archbishop Corrigan celebrated mass, Bishop- 
elect Ludden being on the left. The gospel was chanted by 
the deacon, Rev. Father Lynch. Bishop-elect Ludden then 
went to the side of the altar where he was vested with the 
tunic, dalmatic and chasuble, then went to the right of the 
altar and said mass. The epistle being read, Arch¬ 
bishop Corrigan took his seat before the high altar and the 
assistant bishops led Bishop-elect Ludden before him. Arch¬ 
bishop Corrigan then stated the duties and powers of the 
Episcopacy. Bishop-elect Ludden was prostrate before him, 
while prayers were being said. The prostration of the Bishop- 
elect was expressive of the interior humiliation of the soul in 
the presence of God. The litany of the saints was chanted 
by the priests in the chancel. During these petitions the 
blessing was given by Archbishop Corrigan, who held the 
crozier in his left hand and pronounced benediction over 
the Bishop-elect. Then Bishop Ludden rose and knelt before 
the Archbishop, the book of gospels being placed on the neck 
and shoulders of the former. This rite is intended to show 
that the gospel must not be a sealed book for the new bishop; 
that the duty of unfolding the truth it contains presses upon 
him and that henceforward he is to carry the name of 
Christ before all classes. Archbishop Corrigan then offered 
prayers for the Bishop-elect and the archbishop and assistants 
placed their hands upon the elect simultaneously saying, “Re¬ 
ceive thou the Holy Ghost.” Prayers followed. While the 
choir sang “ Veni Creator ” the head of Bishop-elect Ludden 
was bound with a linen cloth to prevent the oil from drip¬ 
ping to the floor. Archbishop Corrigan then anointed the 
head of the Bishop-elect, first making the sign of the cross and 


so 


ST. PATRICK'S C PORCH A PSD SOCIETY. 


saying, “May thy head be anointed and consecrated with a?, 
heavenly benediction in the pontifical order.”' At the close of 
this ceremony prayer was offered by the archbishop who* then- 
anointed the hands of the Bishop-elect in the same manner 
in which his head had been anointed. The crozier or 
pastoral staff was next blessed by the archbishop and handed 
to the elect. Then the ring was blessed and placed upon 
the middle finger of the right hand as an emblem of fidelity 
which he owes to the church. The book of gospels was- 
then taken from his neck and given to him closed. Arch¬ 
bishop Corrigan then received Bishop Ludden with the kiss 
of peace, as did also the assistant bishops, saying to him, 
** Peace be with you.” Bishpp Ludden was then conducted 
to the sacristy and the mass proceeded. 

BISHOP 0"FARRELl/S SERMON. 

Bishop O’Farrell, of Trenton, N. J., then preached an able 
and beautiful sermon,, an abstract of which is given below r 
—Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians, IV, 13, 14.—“ You 
know how when I preached the Gospel to you heretofore, yon 
received me as an angel of God, even as Jesus Christ.-” 

“ Most Rev. Archbishop, Right Reverend Bishops and Very- 
Dear Brethren. To understand the importance of these 
words of St. Paul we must remember the humility which he 
constantly displayed in all his writings; how he considered 
himself the least of the apostles, and not worthy to be called 
an apostle ; that he sought not the favor of men; that if he 
pleased men he would not please God ; and yet we find him 
congratulating the Galatians that they receive him with so 
much honor and respect; that they could not have received 
more lovingly an angel of God. The mystery is that they re¬ 
ceive him, an apostle, as a bishop sent them by Christ, and 


RE]/. PATRICK A. LUDDEN. 


81 


they receive him because they knew the sanctity and the 
unity and the power he represented in the person. So you 
to-day, dear brethren, will be witnesses of the coming among 
you of your bishop, even as St. Paul came to the Galatians, 
and you will be witnesses of the out pouring of the spirit of 
God upon a mortal man;but He will clothe him with wonder¬ 
ful sanctity and endow him with the greater power and unite 
him to Himself in a most wonderful manner. I can find no 
nobler subject to develop to-day than the prerogatives which 
Christ, the founder of the church, bestowed upon the church 
in the Episcopacy and the power with which He invested the 
Episcopate. When God decided to establish a church on 
earth He desired to show His divine unity and in His church to 
reproduce His divine perfection. Our Lord came down from 
the splendors of the divinity and made it the leading charac- 
teritsic of His church that it should be modeled after the 
model He had seen in Heaven We have seen Him full of 
grace and truth, that through grace we might bring all to Him. 
The first and principal characteristic of His church is unity, 
unity so great that it is modeled after the Godhead, that all 
may be brought and wedded together in unity. “ There is 
only one dove, my dove and my perfect one, one spouse holy 
and immaculate, one Catholic Church, one mother of all the 
children of God.’' This is the model of his church. This 
divine unity can only be the work of Omnipitence. None but 
the hands of God could create such a work, none but He who 
brought the world out of chaos and light out of darkness, 
could, at the time in which He appeared, when the world was 
steeped in the deepest misery and corruption, produce a 
church pure and unspotted. None but He could place in the 
spiritual firmament a sun that should never cease to shine for 


82 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AllD SOCIETY. 


the souls of men. Through all the ages that have elapsed 
that church has been a center binding all men under her laws; 
binding the changeable intellects and capricious wills of men 
to the same truths. What more wonderful work than that 
Catholic Church ? She to-day shines as she did 1,800 years 
ago, for the power that placed her there to shine is the same 
to-day. Though clouds and tempest may obscure that light, 
yet the sun is shining behind the clouds. This sun has been 
shining for 1,800 years, illuminating the greatest intellects 
among the greatest and wisest of men, and though storms may 
darken the air for a time, that church continues to shine all 
the same. It shines in the darkness even though the dark¬ 
ness should not comprehend it. This is the work of God; 
none but God could make it, and we bow in reverence before 
it. It was the design of God to preserve this divine unity 
through all the ages. It is in His pastors He has put the di¬ 
vine unity, to destroy the mystery of division which is the 
work of rebellion, and heresy and schism. This is the glory 
of the Episcopacy; such mystery is in the person, character 
and authority of the bishop. There are many priests, doctors 
and dignitaries, but only one bishop in a diocese. When they 
tried to divide the Episcopacy, they proclaimed one God, one 
Christ and one bishop, one God the principal of unity, one 
Christ the mediator of unity, and one bishop the representa¬ 
tive of unity. Each bishop has his own flock. All the 
bishops have the same flock, of which each guides and directs 
a part in union with the whole. All the bishops are for the 
whole and for unity. To complete this unity a head was 
needed. In the summit of unity our Lord placed one guide 
and leader. When Christ began the unity of His church, He 
selected twelve men and separated them from the multitude of 


REV. PATRICK A. LUDDEN. 83 

His disciples. To complete the unity He selected from the 
twelve, one, St. Peter, to be the leader and chief of all. To 
cause unity he selected twelve ; to complete unity He selected 
-one. He speaks to Peter who, enlightened by the Father in 
Heaven, made His magnificent profession of faith, “ Thou art 
Christ, son of the living God.” In reply He says : “ I call 

thee the rock:; I make thee the rock, and on this rock will I 
build my church.” To give the last perfecting stroke He says': 
■“ Feed my lambs: feed my sheep; take all my flock, pastor 
and sheep, and govern and rule them forever.” This is the 
first great attribute of the church, her unity. Whoso loves the 
church loves unity, and who loves unity the most gives a firm 
obedience to the Episcopal order by which the mystery of 
unity is consummated ; to the Pope, the head of the universal 
church, and to the bishops, the head of the particular churches. 
The duty of every child of the church, therefore, is to honor 
the order. “ He that hears you hears me ; he that despises 
you despises me.” From her unity comes her power. As 
from the unity of the Godhead which Christ treasured came 
all the power He enjoyed, so He designed that all power should 
spring from unity. “ All power is given to one in heaven and 
on earth” He said to the apostles. They had witnessed that 
power on many an occasion. They had seen His power over 
all nature, disease disappearing, the light of the day coming 
to the darkened orbs of the blind, hearing given to the deaf, 
the lame walking and lepers cleansed. The angry winds that 
howled around His little bark were crushed before Him. 
Though he had changed water into wine, he showed still great¬ 
er power by pardoning the sins of them who came to Him. 
He had shown His power on many occasions; but to impress 
on them the full power He had, He said: “ I leave with you 


84 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


my own spirit; whose sins ye shall forgive they are forgiven - 
whose,.sins ye shall retain they are retained. I give you- 
power, not only over the church, but to change bread and 
wine into my body and blood Do this and it shall remain 
forever,” Here vs the wonderful St. John Chrysostom, who 
describes the life of a priest as Godlike, and his work as an¬ 
gelic. Look at the priest clothed in the robes of the church 1 
By a few words he can cause the elements of bread and 
wine to change into the body and blood of the Son of God 
and bring down from heaven to earth the Saviour. A weak 
man, liable to sin as others, acting in the very presence and in 
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, pardoning the sinners 
and saving them from corruption. If such is the power of the 
priest, how much greater must be the power of the bishop. 
He cannot divide it or share it with others. Nothing is per- 
feet until it can produce something like itself. The priest is 
unable to pour into the heart of another the inspiration he has 
himself received. How wonderful must be the unity which 
not only makes in one man the Holy Ghost, but confers this 
power on another. This church is represented as an army of 
which the bishop is one of the leading commanders ; as a ship 
of which the bishop is captain ; as a sheep fold of which the 
bishop is the shepherd, while in many other ways you might 
see the glory and the dignity of the Episcopacy. I may sum 
them all up in a few words. The fathers said to the priests 
they should obey the bishops as the apostles obeyed the m. 
St. Ignatius, of Antioch, says they should obey the bishops as 
Christ obeyed His father in heaven. These are the attributes 
which Christ bestowed upon His church. Now you will under¬ 
stand why the Galatians welcomed St. Paul so highly, and 
how St. Paul, who sought not the favor of men congratulated 


REV. PATRICK A. LUDDEN. 


85 


the Galatians on receiving their bishop as if the Lord and 
Master were actually present. And so to-day you will rejoice 
at the advent of your Bishop. To-day is a day of joy. Only 
lately one of the daughters of Albany, you are to-day consti¬ 
tuted by the Pontiff, who sits in St. Peter’s chair and to whose 
voice kings and emperors listen with respect—by his power 
you are constituted a diocese and your bishop comes to bless 
you to-day. He is no stranger; he has long been a priest; 
he is no hireling; he knows you and you should know him as 
sheep know a good shepherd. Long have I known him also 
and closely have I watched his ecclesiastical career. A quarter 
of a century has passed since he and I were to each other 
in the intimate relation of professor and pupil, and ever since 
have I had on his part very important plans for the priest¬ 
hood. I congratulate you then on the new dignity given you, 
and on the holy commission sent by the great Pope Leo him¬ 
self to be your father and guide for the future. I congratu¬ 
late you, bishops, to see a brother elevated to your dignity, and 
who will be able to share your labors. I congratulate you, 
brother, not merely on the dignity, for that dignity brings you 
many and heavy responsibilities, not only on the mitre, 
for that mitre causes many a headache and heartache. But I 
congratulate you that you have been placed over a generous 
and warm-hearted people, a people who by their sacrifices 
and offerings have raised so many monuments to the cause of 
religion. I congratulate you on your schools and on the well 
appointed and zealous body of priests who to-day surround 
you and who will stand by you in the future. Take up your 
crozier as your pastoral staff. With it you will lead this flock 
in the way of life ; with it you will keep them from poisonous 
pastures, and defend them from ravening wolves even to your 


86 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


life. Take it, relying not on your own strength, but relying 
on Him who has placed you over this particular fold. Take 
it boldly, but use it gently, not to crush but to save, for your 
power is from Him who came to serve and save, to raise up 
the fallen ones. Bear it firmly, for you have to maintain in 
this sorrowing world the principles of right and truth and jus¬ 
tice to all. Bear it firmly, so that when you raise your hands 
over this flock may your blessing be ratified in heaven by the 
great bishop of the church. May the Eternal Son who has 
confided this flock to you, keep you so that you may bring 
them all to Him in heaven.” 


BUILDING THE NEW ST. PATRICK’S. 

We now approach an epoch in the history of St. Patrick’s 
that will mark the period of its greatest achievement. The 
little congregation that was wont to assemble in the humble 
log dwelling of Patrick Moran has grown to numbers far ex¬ 
ceeding three thousand. The small wooden church, ample 
in its day, gave place to fulfill a want, the requirements of 
which were never expected to be exceeded, but which was des¬ 
tined in its turn to become inadequate, and to pass the way 
of those befoe it. The growth of this society is all the more 
remarkable when we remember that several of the neighbor¬ 
ing villages, once a part of the parish, have now churches and 
pastors of their own. We might mention Durhamville, Can- 
astota Vernon and others. The manner of raising a building 
fund for the new church was three-fold; by the church rev¬ 
enues, subscription and amusements. Of the latter we will 




FRONT VIEW OF THE NEW ST. 
PATRICK’S. ERECTED IN 1888. 











































BUILDING THE NEW ST. PATRICK'S. 


89 


speak in order that we may not be misunderstood. From the 
primitive days of the world, people have recognized the ne¬ 
cessity, utility and even absolute goodness derived from proper 
amusements. Speaking of the church in the sixteenth century 
and its attitude concerning the amusements of the age, a dis¬ 
tinguished writer says : “ Of amusement we may learn that 

those festivals alone are durable which are allied to religion 
and to the memory of benefits. ***** What heightens 
the charm of these Christian festivals is that they have existed 
from the remotest antiquity; and we find with pleasure, on 
going back to the past, that our ancestors had rejoiced as we 
are rejoicing.” Knowing that the revenue of the church 
was almost limited to its expenses, and that the congregation, 
however generous, was not a wealthy one, Father Kelly, with 
wise forethought and commendable zeal, succeeded in inaug¬ 
urating a system of amusements in consonance with the above 
that would be at once innocent, pleasing and lucrative. 
Fairs have been held, bazaars attended, excursions given and 
festivals repeated until they have become institutions of almost 
regular occurence. And the revenue alone of the amusements 
and the grand object of its use is not the only claim for their 
continuance. The social aspect of itself would warrant their 
perpetuity. Here, as in the days of old, it can almost be said 
that “ the farmers renewed their leases, the tradesman was 
paid his bills; it was the time of marriages, of presents, of 
charity and of visiting; the judge and his client conferred to¬ 
gether; the trades-unions fraternities, courts of jus¬ 
tice, universities, corporations assembled (at least in exchange 
of thought) according to the Gallic custom * * * While 
added revenue gave zest to the amusements, the subscrip¬ 
tion list was augmented and the resources of the church in- 


90 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY . 


creased. Public enterprise was manifested by many not of 
the faith in liberal donation to the building fund. The labor 
of building the new church has now become a labor of love, 
and we can say with Montesquieu : “That while their relig¬ 
ion seems to have in view the felicity of the other life, it con¬ 
stitutes the happiness of this.” Of the preparatory steps 
taken we will mention only the buying of additional ground, 
thereby enlarging the old site, (corner of Main and Walnut 
streets), for the erection of the new church. At both masses 
on the morning of December 4, 1887, ballots were cast by the 
members of the congregation for a building committee for the 
new church, and at the evening service the following named 
gentlemen were declared elected : 

Rev. James A. Kelly, Chairman. 

COMMITTEE. 

Michael Doian, Thomas O’Brien, L. Kenna, 

A. T. Garvin, Patrick Clark, Neil Duross, 

T. Conniff, T. A. Devereux, John Horth, 

Rhoda Toher, Thomas Kelly, M. Neville. 

This committee, in active sympathy with the task to be per¬ 
formed, immediately set to work, and the plans for a new 
church submitted by several architects of well known reputa¬ 
tion in church architecture, were examined in detail. The 
specifications of architect M. H. Hubbard, of Utica, after a 
careful review by Bishop Ludden, Rev. Father Kelly and the 
building committee, were unanimously adopted, and' active 
and extensive preparations made for the erection of the new 
church, a detailed description of which will appear later on 
in these pages. In the meantime the contract awarding the 
construction of the new St. Patrick’s church, for the sum of 
some thirty thousand dollars, was obtained by Tillotson, 
Thompson & Carney and the work began on April 9, 1888. 


THE NEW ST. PATRICK’S . 


91 


THE NEW ST. PATRICK’S. 

This beautiful edifice, now in course of erection, (July, 1888) 
is to be built of grey stone laid in random ashter work*, with 
cut stone trimmings of the same color. The stone is from 
the Kinney & Baker quarry at Higginsville, Oneida county, 
N. Y., and is considered the finest building and trimming 
stone in the State, on account of its uniform hardness and 
tenacity of color. Built of this material, and fashioned from 
the excellent plan of architect M. H. Hubbard, the new St. 
Patrick’s, when completed will be the finest church in Central 
New York. The style of architecture will be Norman-Gothic,** 
and the total length of the edifice will be one 
hundred and forty-four feet and from floor to apex of roof of 
equal distance, while the main spire will be 184 feet in height 
and will be surmounted by a cross six by eleven feet in size. 
There is to be an open belfry upon the apex of the roof which 
will have two arched openings on either side, each one of 
which will be guarded with an ornamental iron fence three 
feet in height. The roof, which will be of figured slate, will 
have beautiful iron cresting upon the main ridge and transepts. 
These transepts, of which there will be three on each side, 
will be ornamented with attractive gables and appropriate 
wood cresting, in addition to which are three cut stone capped 
buttresses on either side, which serve to dispel the blank and 
monotonous appearance of so many churches. In the tran¬ 
sept there are large windows eight by seventeen and one-half 

* Stones may be laid In lines depending on the thickness of the stone, hut 
with butt joints unequally distributed, coursing; or the corner may be leveled 
up only at every three or five rows, the joints between not necessarily ver¬ 
tical-random coursing; or as the stone Is laid, as-lt will be in the new St. 
Patrick’s, In courses of blocks butt-joints at stated intervals—ashter. 

**Gothlc architecture and sculpture are supposed to be derived from the 
A rabs, on account of their affinity to the monuments of Egypt, transmitted to us 
by the first Christians of the East.—See Viscount de Chateaubriand. 



92 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


feet, in which will be set beautiful memorial windows. Be¬ 
tween these transepts and on each side of a buttress there 
will be smaller windows, four by thirteen feet, hung with 
weights, to serve for the church ventilation. Beneath the 
transept windows are basement windows, both side and rear. 
The rear of the church will have five windows with a highly 
ornamental rose window in the gable, all of which are de¬ 
signed with special reference to the lighting of the sacristies. 
There will be a moulded stone coping on the front gables with 
heavy carved niches. There will be three front entrances to 
the lobbies. The main or spire doorway will be ornamented 
with a massive moulded coping cap, carved niches supported 
by round columns resting upon* moulded bases, and will have 
large carved caps of the Gothic style. Over each entrance 
there will be four lights of cathedral glass which will give a 
subdued and mellow light to the lobbies. Entering the main 
doorway will be found three spacious lobbies opening into 
each other through arches. At the end of these lobbies will 
be stairways leading to the basement, also to a large gallery 
which extends the entire length of the front and over the lob¬ 
bies. This gallery will have an inclined floor extending over 
the rear pews in the auditorium to the rear. Its front will be 
ornamented with panel, rail and spindle work. The audito¬ 
rium (the seating capacity of which will be nearly fourteen hun¬ 
dred) will have five aisles. The ceiling is to be double-dome, 
supported with graceful columns cased with oak and surmount¬ 
ed with beautiful carved caps. The bottom of the lower dome 
commences one foot above the small windows in the sides, 
and ascends to the apex of the arches between the columns. 
At that point the center dome starts, and extends to the apex 
of the ceiling in the Gothic style of architecture. The height 


LAYING THE CORNERSTONE. 


03 

from floor to apex of ceiling will be forty-six feet. There will 
be ventilators in the ceiling which can be opened from the 
ifloor. The sanctuary will be eighteen feet by thirty feet and 
thirty-six feet from the apex of the ceiling, and will be venti - 
lated in the same manner as the auditorium. The style of 
the sanctuary will be octagon shaped, with two doorways at 
either side. In front of the sanctuary will be two kneeling- 
steps and a beautiful altar rail with three openings leading to 
the sanctuary and sacristies. Ascending the sanctuary there 
will be three steps leading to the altar platform, which in turn 
has the same number of steps. On each side of the sanctu¬ 
ary there will be double doors opening from the auditorium 
into large sacristies, which will be connected with a four foot 
passage in the rear of the sanctuary. To each sacristy there 
will be an out door entrance. Above each sacristy, and con¬ 
nected by stairways leading from below, will be rooms of the 
same dimensions as the sacristies proper, and which will be 
fitted up for the use of committee meetings, etc. The main 
interior finish of the church will be in oak and cherry; the 
casings will be of heavy mouldings with cones, tile and plinth 
block. The wainscotting will be panelled and finished with 
a dado. The frescoing will be elaborate in design and in per¬ 
fect harmony with the style of architecture used. 


LAYING THE CORNER STONE OF THE NEW ST. 

PATRICK’S. 

Sunday, June 17, 1888, was a memorable day in the history 
of St. Patrick’s society, it being the first secure step upon 
the threshold of the new structure whose very foundation 
was consecrated to God. The morning was clear and fair, 



64 


ST. PATRICK'S CRURCH AND SOCIETY. 


and the glorious foliage of early summer basked in the peace¬ 
ful sunlight of a resplendent calm, that whispered “ Glory to* 
God and peace to men of good will,” and found a responsive* 
echo in “Well done, good and faithful servants” in the hearts* 
of the pious parishioners. Building up; tearing down t 
What a contrast f The one is life ; the other deaths Here 
was performed a ceremony the ultimatum of which has its so¬ 
lution only in eternity ! The ceremonies attending the laying 
of the corner stone of a Catholic church are both elaborate 
and impressive, and the minutest detail of which is full of 
deep religious significance* Each prayer, invocation, psalm* 
and benediction, are all strikingly beautiful in their suggest¬ 
iveness of the sacred character of the building—all in har¬ 
mony with the divine purpose of consecrating the edifice as 
“ The temple of the living God.” 

The corner stone contained various documents and records, 
the local papers, current coins, the original copyright of this 
work, the names of the President of the United States, the 
Governor of the State, the names of the officers of the village 
government, the names of the trustees of the church, the list 
of paid up subscribers to the building fund, and the following 
names, representing the Roman Catholic Heirarchy of America 
in its local sense : Pope Leo XIII, his Eminence, James, 
Cardinal Gibbons, Most Rev. Archbishop M. A. Corrigan, 
Right Rev. P. A. Ludden, Very Rev. John S. M. Lynch and 
Rev. James A. Kelly, pastor of the church. The 
dedicatory rite was performed upon the site of the 
main altar of the church, and was witnessed by 
some five thousand people. Besides Right Rev. Bishop 
Ludden and Vicar General Lynch, the following of the clergy 
were present: Fathers Murphy, Ward and Schmitt of Rome ;L. 



SIDE VIEW OF THE NEW ST. PATRICK’S. 
ERECTED IN 1888. 











































































't 
















































































































































LAYING THE CORNERSTONE. 


97 


O’Reilly, Toomey and Cullen, of Utica; McGee and Mul- 
laney, of Syracuse ; Ludden, of Little Falls ; Stanton of Chit- 
tenango ; P. O’Reilly, of Clinton ; McLaughlin of Cortland ; 
J. L. Reilly, Schenectady; George Pax, of Durhamville; Mc¬ 
Guire, of Albany; Hughes of Oswego and J. O’Reilly of 
Pompey Hill. In laying the corner stone, Bishop Ludden was 
assisted by Vicar General Lynch and Rev. Father John L. 
Reilly, of Schenectady, secretary to Bishop McNierny. The 
chanters were Father McGee, of Syracuse, Father Toomey 
and Father Cullen, of Utica and Father Hughes of Os¬ 
wego. St. Patrick’s choir rendered the Magnificat , which 
was arranged to the Gloria of Mozart’s Twelfth Mass. Fol¬ 
lowing, the reverend chanters intoned the 83d psalm, “ How 
Lovely are thy Tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts.” The Bishop 
recited the prayer invoking the blessing of God, who rules 
the heavens and the earth; asking the prayers of the saints 
who surround the celestial throne, to intercede for their breth¬ 
ren on earth. The procession then proceeded to the corner 
stone, which was blessed by invocations and solemn prayer 
and sprinkled with holy water. The Bishop took the mason’s 
trowel and marked the stone with three crosses, “In ?iom- 
ine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti , Amen,” the Litany of 
the Saints being chanted whilst the masons placed the stone 
in permanent position. The clergy next formed in proces¬ 
sion and marched around the entire foundation of the church, 
singing the following psalms: the 126th, “Except the Lord 
build the House they labor in vain that build it ;” the 86th, 
“The foundations thereof are in the holy mountains;” the 
50th, “ Have mercy on me O Lord, according to thy great 
mercy,” each part of the foundation being sprinkled by the 
Bishop with holy water. Having returned to the site of the 


98 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


sanctuary, the chanters intoned the antiphone, “ How terrible 
is this place; truly this is no other than the house of God, 
and the God of Heaven.’' The choir sang with Christian feel¬ 
ing and grateful enthusiasm a song of praise, Laudate Sion,” by 
Lambilotte, which closed the ceremony with the exception of 
the following erudite and eloquent sermon which was deliv¬ 
ered by Rev. Martin J. Hughes, rector of St. John’s, Oswego, 
N. Y., at the conclusion of which the Right Rev. Bishop Lud- 
den pronounced the benediction: 

And the Lord said to him ; I have heard thy prayer and thy supplica¬ 
tion which thou hast made before me ;>I have sanctified this house which 
thou hast built, to put my name there forever : and my eyes and my heart 
shall be there always. Ill Kings, IX, 3. 

These were the words of Almighty God to King Solomon, when he had 
finished the temple of Jerusalem and had prepared it for the solemn ser¬ 
vice of dedication. He declares that he shall sanctify this church built by 
Solomon : shall put his name there forever and that his eyes shall always 
watch over and his heart be always present in it. Why was God so solici- 
tious to sanctify and preserve this temple of Solomon? Not alone because 
it was the grandest of all temples ; not alone because it was erected to the 
honor and glory of God, but because it was built to contain the Ark of the 
Covenant which was the very essence, the very soul of the Jewish religion: 
and the Ark of the Covenant contained but the tablets of the law given by God 
to Moses on the Mount Sinai, the manna of the desert, by which the 
children of Israel were miraculously fed and the blooming rod of Aaron. 
Yet this temple with its Ark of the Covenant and its Holy of Holies was 
only a figure of the temple of the New Law. Everything in the Mosaic 
Law was but a figure of what we have in the new dispensation. This is 
what St. Paul means when in his epistle to the Hebrews, he says that every¬ 
thing in the Mosaic dispensation was but a shadow of the good things to 
come. In the ratio of the type is the antitype. As the Ark of the Cove¬ 
nant for which Solomon built the temple of Jerusalem, was the very same 
of the Jewish religion and as the greatness and sanctity of this Ark of the 
Covenant consisted in the tablets of the Law, the manna of the desert 
and the blooming rod of Aaron ; so we have in the new law the perfect 
antitype of each and all of these in the tabernacle of the altar. There we 
have, not the tablets of the law, not the law itself, but the very Author of 
the law; the manna is typified in the food we receive under the appearance 



SERMON BY REV. MARTIN J. HUGHES. 99 

of bread which is no less than the body and blood of Christ Himself and the 
^looming rod of Aaron is beautifully symbolized in the renewal of this 
"food, by the sacrifice of the mass through all time from the rising to the 
tsetting of the sun. This temple is now to be the home of our Lord Him¬ 
self, where in his sacred humanity he shall abide day and night while the 
•temple lasts. Not where we shall never enter, or may enter but once a year; 
*but which is always open to us and where we shall always hear that still, 
•sweet, gentle voice crying out from a heart burning with love “Come to 
ime all ye who labor and are heavy burdened and I will assist you.” It is 
•to be the home of the High Priest of the new law Who because he himself 
•was encompassed with infirmity, knows our sufferings and can have* com¬ 
passion on us. It is hero that he shall be physically present with us to 
snake the burdens of life light and to give us consolation in the hours 
of affliction and sorrow. It is indeed to be the temple of the Most High, 
greater than the temple of Solomon, as the antitype is always greater than 
the type. 

The ceremony of the la 5 r ing of a cornerstone and of dedicating houses 
of worship to the honor and glory of God is not a new ceremony in the 
history of the Catholic church. Like everything else catholic, it is a cus¬ 
tom long consecrated by time. Its history extends through the last 2000 
years of the Christian religion and in the history of the chosen people of God 
this custom is contemporaneous with its most venerable records. We see 
that Jacob dedicated to God the place where he had seen the mysterious 
vision of the ladder and the angels. Moses and Aaron dedicated the taber¬ 
nacles they had erected in the desert. Solomon dedicated the ark which he 
had borne in solemn pomp to the hill of Zion. The temple of Jerusalem 
was three times dedicated, first under King Solomon whose name it bore 
•and who made it the marvel of the universe. The second dedication took 
place under Zorobabel and on the occasion of its reconstruction when the 
Egyptian people had returned from the Babylonian captivity. And the 
third dedication was caused by the famous children of the Machibees when 
they renewed the exercises of their religion so long interdicted by Antio- 
chus, the profaner of their temple. But how could the act of blessing or 
dedication take place among the early Chris tains, among those who lived in 
Apostolic times. They were without homes, without houses, without 
churches, they were the outcasts of nations and the persecuted of men . 
Ah! they dedicated the whole earth to the honor and glory of God, conse¬ 
crating it with the rich, pure, fertile blood of martyrdom. Oh! Happy 
Rome! Mistress of the world! first consecrated by the St. blood of Peter and 
Paul. Well were those Catacombs, those subterranean caverns, consecrated 
to the service of God, where for 300 years the mysteries of God’s divine 


ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH AMD SOCIETY. 


TOO 


religion were offered up, for the soil of Rome was dedicated to the service- 
of God and consecrated bv the bloocT of innumerable martyrs, while ye is 
the smoke of sacrifice was curling through the domes of her mighty 
pagan temples. But the time had come when persecution ceased, and' 
forthwith issued from the caverns of the earth thousands upon thousands of. 
Christians to proclaim and’practice openly in the presence of'mankind God’s- 
laws and God’s commandments. The great house of Caesar had fallen and' 
the long line of Roman Emperors was blotted out forever. Constantine 1 
had proclaimed peace to those who for 300 years had borne many of the’ 
cruel wounds of persecution. Now all Rome turned from- the darkness of 
paganism to the shining light of Christianity and in return for property con¬ 
fiscated and persecutions imposed, the temples of her innumerable idols- 
became the habitation of the one “true” and living God. And the first act of 
the Christian church after the earth had been dedicated and consecrated in the 
blood of the martyrs was to dedicate those pagan temples^ to the service of' 
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Oh \ the change f the wondrous change !' 
that almost in- a day the cross should take the place of the eagle, that the 
fasces of the lictors should be succeeded by the Sword of the Word, that' 
Jupiter should descend from his niche in the capital, that the city of Nero- 
should become the city of Peter, that the faith of the fisherman of Galilee- 
and tent maker of Tarsus should become a law to the proudest people of the- 
world and the greatest nation- of the earth and that a disciple of the con¬ 
demned, despised and crucified Nazareno should-sit crowned upon the throne- 
of Cresar with all the gods of paganism in atoms at his feet. In mediaeval 
times it was customary for the bisho-ps of a province, as well as the clergy 
and laity of a particular locality to assemble at the solemn service of the 
laying of a cornerstone or the dedication of a church. Constantine con¬ 
voked all the bishops of the East, in order to be present at the dedication 
of the church of Tyre and on another occasion at the dedication of the 
church of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. It was also the 
ease in the early ages of those great European cathedrals which now have 
witnessed the beginning and the end of more than twenty generations - 
which to-day towering towards heaven are the glory of the Catholic and the 
wonder of all men irrespective of creed or nationality and which show bet¬ 
ter than anything else can the spirit, the soul and the genius of that 
religion that called them into being. Neither the art, nor the science, nor 
the genius of the present day can form or create anything to surpass 
them. And even where the hand of persecution has fallen heavily upon 
them and leveled them in the dust, there is still glory in their history and 
majesty in their ruins. And to-day, men of Oneida, in assisting at the 


SERMON BY REV. MARTIN J. HUGHES. 


101 




solemn service of the laying of the cornerstone of this church we are only 
repeating a oustom handed down to us by our Catholic forefathers and con¬ 
secrated by all time. 

But what is the object of this ceremony for which you are gathered here 
to-day ! It is that this building through the blessing of the Rt. Rev. Bishop 
shall receive the Divine sanction to pass to the legitimate end for which 
it is destined; and this takes place in a two-fold way, by separation and by 
oblation. In the acts of the Apostles it is mentioned that God having 
called Saul and Barnabas to the Apostolic ministry ordered that they should 
be separated from the other disciples. “Separate unto me Saul and Barna¬ 
bas.” Now the Bishop shall do towards this temple what the spirit of God 
did to Saul and Barnabas. He shall separate it in the name of Christ our 
Savior and thus take it out of the category of ordinary buildings. It shall 
be no longer a house, no longer a palace, no longer a habitation for men. 
It shall be more than all these. A building standing alone, the most vener¬ 
able of the city; the holy habitation; the temple of the living God, 
and for this purpose, the first and chief stone of the building is offered to 
God as a gift t the cornerstone, the symbol of Christ himself to his church i 
and in due time the whole building is offered. It is a most worthy gift to 
offer, for it is an earthly palace constructed by the hands of God’s own 
creatures and where the spirit of love, of sacrifice and of perseverence are 
to be everywhere seen in it. This building the bishop on the part of the 
people shall offer to the Sovereign Master of all nature, and in it as the 
principal part of the building he shall offer an altar whereon the sacrifice, 
not of goats, nor of calves, nor of oxen shall be offered up, but the sacrifice 
of the Immaculate Lamb which was once offered on Calvary and shall con¬ 
tinue to be offered through all time, from the rising to the setting of the 
sun. Erected to the honor and glory of God it becomes his property, his 
house, “my house.” Its construction embraces the simplest and the noblest 
of God’s creatures, the rocks and the sand gathered and moulded and form¬ 
ed by the charity and the love of man under the direction of that gift of 
reason by which man is raised above all nature, made the Lord and Master 
of all creation and only a little less than the angels themselves. His house 
this shall be forever, not where he shall dwell simply in spirit or when we 
are gathered togethei in prayer, but where he Bhall always dwell, really 
and truly in the tabernacle of the altar. It is indeed the royal house of 
heaven. For the spiritual benefit of the faithful this temple is also erected 
and to-day receives the divine blessing. Man has one duty to perform here, 
only one and a great duty. This duty is to save his soul; of himself he can¬ 
not do this. He must be instructed, encouraged, surrounded by influences 


102 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


and led by inducements to his eternal destiny. During lif® the proper 
place to prepare for this future destiny is the church. Here it is that our 
career of sanctification begins, here it is continued and here it ends. It 
was in the church that the waters of baptism were poured upon our heads 
when we were not yet even cognizant of our own existence. It was here 
that our souls were again and again replenished with God’s best gifts and 
graces during the years of our strength and manhood and it is here that 
our bodies, cold in death, shall be placed to receive the last blessing and 
benediction of the church when the glory of the world has passed , from our 
sight forever. It is in the church that we find those elements which con¬ 
cur above all things else in the salvation of the soul; prayer, the sacra¬ 
ment, the word of God and the holy sacrifice of the mass. Sunday after 
Sunday and day after day you shall be gathered together here to offer up 
in prayer your hearts and souls to God, like incense in his light. Here you 
shall drink of the fountain of God’s love and mercy in the reception of the 
sacrament. The word of God shall be preached to you here by your pastors, 
not as they believe it, not as they know it, not as the world understands it, 
but as it has been delivered to them, “As I have commanded you.” And it 
is here alone that the altar shall stand on which will be daily offered the 
groat sacrifice of Calvary for the living and the dead. Last of all, this 
temple is an image of the sanctity of our souls and a figure of the heavenly 
Jerusalem. “Ye are the temples of the living God” says St. Paul to the 
Corinthians. God has invisibly done upon the temples of our souls what 
is visibly done on the cornerstone of this temple to-day. In a similar 
way to the rite of aspersion, inscription, illumination and benediction. 
St. Bernard says God has marked our souls, He has poured the waters of 
baptism upon us, marked our foreheads with the sign of the cross, illumined 
our souls with the light of his divine gospel and enriched us with untold 
blessings by giving for our use and benefit all the wondrous gifts of nature 
and of grace. Aspersion, inscription, illumination, these are the merits ; 
benediction is the recompense. It is a true image of what the sanctity of 
our souls should be, we who are the temples of the Most High. During this 
life we are moving toward an immortal temple, the temple of which St. 
John speaks in the Apocalypse ; the tabernacle of God with men, where he 
will dwell with them and they shall be his people and he shall be their God • 
and he shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and death shall be no more 
nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow, for the former things have passed 
away, for the Lord God Almighty is the temple thereof and the Lamb is 
the lamp thereof. This is our hope that we shall one day reach this 
heavenly Jerusalem and for this reason while passing through the years of 


THE FUTURE OT ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH. 


103 


*this life we enter into and rest in those tabernacles not built by men, to be 
there purified and sanctified and made worthy to enter into that heavenly 
tabernacle, with God and his angels and saints for all eternity. 

You deserve to be congratulated to-day, Catholics of Oneida, on the sig¬ 
nal manner in which God has blessed your undertaking and the labors of 
your good pastor, Father Kelley. He, I know, feels grateful for the kind 
■disposition you all have shown, both Catholics and Protestants, for the 
generous aid you have given him and will give him to the end of this build¬ 
ing. And you, I know, feel confident that in him you have one whose least 
•offering to the good work will be when called upon, the sacrifice of himself. 
May your co-operation with his efforts be crowned with Success. May you 
all live to see this temple reach its completion and when completed may the 
^effect of that teaching which you shall receive from the lips of Father Kelley 
and his successors in the holy office of the priesthood, abide, grow and ex¬ 
pand in you and your children and your children’s children to the tenth 
(generation, and when he and you are carried to the homes of your fathers, 
when your names are blotted out from the lists of living men, when time 
shall have reduced this temple to ruin and decay. May God place upon 
your brows crowns of immortal glory for the love you have shown him and 
the sacrifices you have made to advance the honor of his Divine son. 

This closed a ceremony which will have no parallel until the 
new St. Patrick’s is dedicated to the God to whom its very 
foundation was consecrated, “Pax Domini sit Semper Vob¬ 
is cum.” 


THE FUTURE OF ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH. 

As we approach the closing pages of this little book we must 
confess, with a sense of abashment, that they have not been 
more worthy of your perusal. The art of writing books is not 
our art, nor is it one to be acquired as readily as one would 
pick up the catch phrases of the day. In no sense have we at- 



ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


104 


tempted to write a religious work, our aim being simply to give 
a secular review that would' be based on truth and free from» 
flippancy. To us the work has been- one of interest as it de¬ 
veloped ; the unwritten portion of which has not been the 
feast attractive part. That much of this should appear, we da 
not deny, but the boundaries of our space forbade elaboration 
and the limit of time for preparation having expired,, you have 
the result as it is—without correction or revision; Standing, 
as we* do upon the threshold of a new era in the history of St, 
Patrick’s, beyond the vestibule of which will begin the record 
of the golden prime of its possibilities, of what will the future 
historian write ?* His language will not be from the puny pen 
of mediocrity, but will ring with the clarion voice of progress. 
His record will not be of log dwellings, wooden churches, care¬ 
worn missionaries and small congregations. We have had to 
look back, but the privilege of looking forward is not denied 
us. Even at the risk of being, accused of schoolboy prophecy, 
we lay aside the retrospective glass to glance through a pros¬ 
pective one. What do we see at the expiration of even so 
short a period as a half century? Not one humble church,, 
but grand cathedrals; not a congregation the members of 
Which are numbered by hundreds, but by thousands ; not the 
simple catechism class, but the parochial schools and colleges; 
not the few pious Sodalists instructing their little classes, but 
the trained corps of Brothers and Sisters; not the “rented 
house” for the zealous “ Shepherd of the Fold,” but the mag¬ 
nificent pastoral residence ; not the protection of a few char¬ 
itably disposed people for the poor and fatherless, but the 
stately orphanage and home. Dream-like as this may appear 
now it is justified by the past history of that Church which has 
the assurance of its Divine Founder that He will always remain 


THE FUTURE OF ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH. 


105 


with it “even to the consummation of the world,”* and which 
holds the sublime faith of which Chateaubriand speaks when 
he says : “It was undoubtedly a stupendous wisdom that point¬ 
ed out faith to us as a source of all the virtues. There is no 
power but in conviction. If a train of reasoning is strong, a 
poem divine, a picture beautiful, it is because the under¬ 
standing or the eye, to whose judgment they are submitted, is 
convinced of a certain truth hidden in this reasoning, this 
poem, this picture. What wonders a small band of troops, 
persuaded of the abilities of their leader, is capable of achiev¬ 
ing ! Thirty-five thousand Greeks followed Alexander to the 
conquest of the world; Lacedaemon commits her destiny to 
the hands of Lycurgus and Lacedaemon becomes the wisest 
of cities; Babylon believes that she is formed for greatness 
and greatness crowns her confidence; an oracle gives the em¬ 
pire of the universe to the Romans, and the Romans obtain 
the empire of the universe; Columbus alone, among all his 
contemporaries, persists in believing the existence of a new 
world, and a new world arises from the bosom of the deep. 
Friendship, patriotism, love, every noble sentiment, is like¬ 
wise a species of faith. Because they had faith, a Cordus, a 
Pylades, a Regulusand an Arria performed prodigies.” Holding 
this faith the future of St. Patrick’s will be even grander than 
we have outlined, and when the Angelas bell proclaims “ Ves- 
pere et mane , et meridie clamabo et annuntiabo ,” the people 
will renew their ardor in works manifesting the glory of their 
God. One word more. How sublimely eloquent are the 
lines of our beloved Longfellow , when predicting the glorious 
future of our country! Not less sublime, nor scarcely less ap¬ 
propriate, with the substitution of Church for Union, is his 


*Matt. XXVIII— xx. 




106 


ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 


immortal apostrophe cherished by the good people of St. Pat¬ 
rick’s, as applicable to their aspirations and the fruition of 
their hopes:— 

“ Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State ! 

Sail on, O Union, strong and great ! 

Humanity with all its fears, 

With all the hopes of future years, 

Is hanging breathless on thy fate ! 

We know what Master laid thy keel, 

What Workman wrought thy ribs of steel, 

Who made each mast, and sail, and rope, 

What anvils rang, what hammers beat, 

In what a forge and what a heat 
Were shaped the anchors of thy hope ! 

Fear not each sudden sound and shock, 

’Tis of the wave and not the rock; 

’Tis but the flapping of the sail, 

And not a rent made by the gale ! 

In spite of rock and tempest’s roar, 

In spite of false lights on the shore, 

Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea! 

Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee, 

Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears, 
Our faith triumphant o’er our fears, 

Are all with thee,—are all with thee ! ” 


FINIS. 



The subject of the above illustration, M. M. Hubbard, the architect of the 
new church, was born at Hubbardsville, Madison County, N. Y., on April 11, 
1852. Left in early life dependent upon his personal resources, he attended 
the common schools and devoted himself assiduously to all the branches 
taught. Desiring to become an architect, a profession for which he mani¬ 
fested a decided preference, he served five years as an apprentice at the 
carpenters’ and joiners’ trade, which were followed by three years’ work as a 
journeyman. Becoming very proficient at his chosen calling ho became an 




















* 


architect and builder, and while thus employed erected many fine buildings. 
Later he entered the office T. J. Lacey of Binghamton, N. Y., one of the 
foremost architects of Southern New York, where he continued his studies 
for some years, and until obliged to resign upon account of failing eye¬ 
sight. Coming to Oneida, he became connected with the burial case man¬ 
ufactory of Chappell, Chase, Maxwell & Co. in the capacity of special de¬ 
signer. While here he designed and constructed the celebrated canopy used 
in the Grant obsequies while the remains of the ex-President were lying 
in state in New York city. Having served this firm faithfully for some two 
years, he tendered his resignation and retired, carrying with him the 
strongest recommendation for efficiency in his profession. Locating in Utica, 
N. Y., he opened an architect’s office which has proved very success¬ 
ful. In addition to the new St. Patrick’s, and prominently among 
the long list of buildings in the erection of which Mr. Hubbard is en¬ 
gaged, we will mention the new Baptist church of Oneida, which, with St. 
Patrick’s, is a model of fine workmanship, and will bear comparison with 
any church in Central New York, for the money expended in its con¬ 
struction ; also the new St. Patrick’s church at Norwich, which deserves 
similar praise. As a native of Madison county, Mr. Hubbard has a special 
interest and pride in demonstrating his ability to plan and construct 
churches that will merit the approval of all its citizens, and be regarded 
with favor by those whose interests he has served. 


ST. PATRICK'S 

Church and Society 

OF ONFIDA, N. Y. 


JIt) pisfo picel 


WITH BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES OF ITS PASTORS. 

BY JOHN T. DELRING. 


“ Wherefore by Tf|eir Fruits Ye Shall Know Them.” 

— Matt. 71 it-xx. 


ILLUSTRATED. 

ZPOFTTXj-i^R IEjIDITIOTST- 

« opyright 1888. All lights reserved. 


ONEIDA, N. Y. : 

D. A. Jackson & Co., Printers. 






EjS EHggH H Hd x * dri x l. Hg HEE ' EEE B*? 

Preston & Peeving, 

GENERAL DRY-GOODS, 

Oneida, 2S7Y "5T. 

J. E. Preston. J. T. Peering. 



































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